News as a Cultural Mirror

Historically Black Newspapers Reflecting Public Views of Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Bibliographic Data

ID7500537
AuthorsJennifer Ware (Wright State University, corresponding author), Geri Alumit Zeldes (0000-0002-7823-9906, Michigan State University), Jennifer Hoewe (0000-0001-7340-7301, University of Alabama)
Year2015
Volume71
Issue4
Pages693-711
Publication date2015-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4537 • E-ISSN: 1540-4560
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/josi.12144
OpenAlexW2203785757
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited28

This study examined seven historically Black newspapers’ coverage of the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia (1967), which overturned anti‐miscegenation laws that prevented non‐White individuals from marrying White individuals. A content analysis of frames and source usage within 31 news stories about the case indicated that about half of the stories ( N = 14) advocated for the Lovings and a small number ( N = 1) advocated for the State of Virginia; the remaining stories were either informational ( N = 7) or objectivist ( N = 9). Because the media is said to be a cultural mirror of public opinion, the results of this study may indicate the public's views on the issue of intermarriage laws. This study's findings also showed that historically Black newspapers agreed with their mainstream counterparts more than they disagreed

Content analysis · Mainstream · Media studies · Newspaper · Objectivism · Political science · Politics · Public figure · Public opinion · Social science · Sociology · State (computer science · Supreme court · White (mutation · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication · History · Law

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