Does the media accelerate the racial divide in America?

William (Yes)

Though it's taught that 'everything has a bias,' many fail to realize how objectivity can still be found. However, objectivity often fails to stretch beyond historical documents into the world of modern media. When it comes to race, the press never forgets to mention it in an objective light. 

In our current social climate, it is very easy to divide by racial barriers, most notably black and white, and the media have played a significant role in achieving that. The world is headline-driven. The New York Post titles a noisy female's wrong decision quickly into 'White Woman Accused of Calling Cops On Black Woman Standing In Doorway In The Rain.' Meanwhile, Fox writes about a protestor saving a man in chaos with the headline 'Black Protestor Carries White Man Through Angry Crowd […].' As the journalism industry slowly declines in the modern, digital era, these types of titles appear more and more. Although all four individuals were labeled by their correct racial identity and actions, this type of headline journalism is proven to drive up clicks, ad revenue, and other interactions, building wealth for the corporations and disconnect amongst the people. Labeling individuals by their race or ethnicity is a successful, but ethically questionable, attempt to boil current racial divides. Many engage with media to engage with the current controversy, chaos, and conflict going on both around the world and in our back yard. These provocative headlines ensure consumers stay hooked on these news services that link the race of individuals with their actions, whether positive or negative. Economics—not ethics—is the primary incentive for any corporation, and that is certainly true for the media.

Jennifer (No)

The racial divide in America has not been “accelerated” by the media. That fire has been burning since Reconstruction.  

One might say that online media – social platforms, for example – has been responsible for a distorted narrative, forwarded by thousands of accounts across multiple platforms, dedicated to exacerbating race relations. That ignoble fight has now been brought to the streets of our cities by groups like the Boogaloo Bois. But it’s clear that traditional media – television, news organs – are merely reflecting the state of a nation in turmoil.

George Floyd’s killing at the hands of the police was a watershed moment. In this instance, the media in question – a video – was provided by a 17-year-old bystander who filmed the police action and its tragic result. The video’s contents undoubtedly inflamed the situation because it exposed the truth – that law enforcement is too often willing to use lethal force against Black men. The video is, in fact, a document which testifies to this fact.

The media is reporting on an explosion of public fury, occasioned by Mr. Floyd’s death but he was not the first, by any means. And race relations in the USA were in decline prior to his murder. John Sides, who teaches political science at Vanderbilt University, notes that Americans are increasingly pessimistic in this regard, pointing to a recent Gallup Poll. Black optimism with respect to race relations dropped from 66% in 2013 to 40% in 2018.

The media’s mandate is to hold up a mirror. The reflection isn’t always pleasing.