

Episode 06: The Media’s Default Setting of White Supremacy
4 snips Aug 9, 2017
Dr. Jared A. Ball, a communication studies professor at Morgan State University, discusses how media narratives often facilitate white supremacy. He analyzes the language that downplays state violence and creates false equivalencies between police and victims. The conversation dives into how black victims are often posthumously smeared and how exaggerated threats against police shift blame. Ball explores the media's role in shaping perceptions of systemic racism and the urgent need for accountability in representation.
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Language in Police Shootings
- Media uses specific language to protect police and blame victims in shootings.
- "Officer-involved shooting" obscures police responsibility, while passive voice removes agency.
Mike Brown Shooting Headline
- The initial headline after Mike Brown's shooting was "Teenager shot, killed..." without mentioning the officer.
- The article obscured police involvement, stating an officer was "involved" without clarifying responsibility.
Walter Scott Shooting
- Media uses vague terms like "altercation" to downplay police violence.
- In Walter Scott's case, media reported a "fight" despite video showing he was shot while running away.