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Media Focus on Civil Rights: Little Rock to Watchdog Journalism

This article explores the media's coverage of civil rights events, such as the impact of Elizabeth Eckford in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the coverage of Freedom Riders and lunch counter sit-ins in the 1960s. It traces the shift from partisan press to watchdog journalism, investigating the cycles of investigative reporting and the rise and decline of muckraking journalism. The decline in investigative journalism by the 1920s is examined, as well as the rise again in the 1960s due to the Vietnam War and Watergate. The article also analyzes the different roles and characteristics of journalists and critiques the concept of "balance" in news reporting.

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Media Focus on Civil Rights: Little Rock to Watchdog Journalism

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  1. Civil rights Which media is he focusing on? Little Rock, Arkansas: Elizabeth Eckford Impact on presidents (Eisenhower and later JFK) Coverage of Freedom Riders, lunch counter sit-ins

  2. 1960s – shift to watchdog journalism • Sabato: • LAPDOG JOURNALISM 1941-1966 (note earlier roots in partisan press of late 1700s/1800s) • WATCHDOG (INVESTIGATIVE) JOURNALISM 1964-1974 (note earlier roots… in Progressive Era and before) • JUNKYARD DOG JOURNALISM 1974 on

  3. Mark Feldstein: cycles of investigative reporting • Investigative/muckrakingjournalism/advocacy journalism = use of fact gathering to challenge political authority, oppose abuse of power (by gov’t, business, churches) - is CYCLICAL – waxes and wanes • Investigative reporting/muckraking depends on supply and demand • Muckraking was not common in the early 1800s or the heyday of the partisan press – if there were investigations, were limited to the opposition party from the one that controlled the newspaper

  4. Causes for rise of investigative journalism during “heyday of muckraking” – 1902-1912) * Industrialization * Progressive idealsDecline of investigative journalism by 1920 – why? * Amelioration of problems * Decline of Progressives * World War I

  5. RISE AGAIN OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM 1960’S (Similar to Sabato’s “watchdog journalism”) • Due to Vietnam, Watergate • Then decline again… ending of those controversial events, public loses interest in that kind of reporting (demand side) • Feldstein: must consider supply of investigative reporting by media and “demand” by public

  6. Patterson, Political Roles of the Journalist * Surveyed 1300 journalists in US, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Italy *Considered variation in 3 characteristics of journalists HOW PARTISAN? HOW OBJECTIVE? HOW CRITICAL?

  7. Criticisms of American-style objective journalism • What is wrong with “balance” in news reporting?

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