Harm & Distrust

Learn about the historical failure of mainstream news organizations to serve all people equally, the legacies of distrust this has caused among specific groups in America — particularly Black Americans — and recent efforts by news outlets to improve their coverage.

Learning objectives

• I can summarize the role journalism aspires to play in American democracy.
• I can explain why news coverage that fails to fairly and accurately reflect the experiences and realities of all communities and groups of people falls short of the standards of quality journalism.
• I can explain why it’s important for communities to be able to trust news organizations to tell their stories accurately.
• I can list historical examples of legacy media failing to live up to its duty to minimize harm in relation to Black communities in the U.S.
• I can explain why many Black Americans distrust legacy media and can apply this understanding to coverage of other groups of historically marginalized people.
• I can summarize the essential role the Black press played in countering biased and racist coverage during Reconstruction and beyond.
• I can recognize examples of overt racial bias in contemporary news coverage.
• I can describe the watchdog role I can play in advocating for changes to make newsrooms more equitable and representative of the communities they serve.