Authors: Suzanne E. Scoggins (Assistant Professor of Political Science, Clark University); Heather Silber Mohamed (Associate Professor of Political Science, Clark University), presenting.

Abstract:

Periodicals targeting Latinx, Asian, and/or Black communities in the U.S. frame news stories distinctly for community members, with both Spanish- and Chinese-language press helping to provide a “roadmap” for immigrants incorporating into the U.S. While current research focuses on press coverage of the needs of co-ethnics, it does not explore how ethnic media covers the needs or interests of other marginalized racial/ethnic groups (co-minorities). Importantly, we know little about how the Spanish and Chinese language press portray issues pertaining to other co- minorities, such as the Black community. Focusing on the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred across the U.S. in the summer of 2020, we utilize content analysis of a preliminary sample of ethnic media publications targeting the Latinx and Chinese American communities to explore key questions of news portrayal of issues related to a co-minority group. Will this coverage emphasize or downplay commonalities shared by distinct marginalized groups? How will tone of coverage vary, based on which group is the target audience? Consistent with theories of the racial hierarchy in the U.S., we anticipate that in comparison to media targeting the Chinese American community, the Latinx press will do more to foster a sense of commonality with the BLM movement.