Journal Articles

Journalism, advocacy and the social construction of consensus

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Scholarship examining media coverage of social problems largely examines coverage of contentious issues. In this study, I contribute to our understanding of journalist practices by examining coverage of an issue over which there is a US consensus: female genital cutting (FGC). With an analysis of newspaper coverage supplemented by interviews and primary documents, I find that, in contrast to existing literature that shows that reporters must refrain from issue advocacy, when consensus is widespread reporters can and do collaborate with advocates, harmonize with opinion writers, and use their physical presence and access to newsprint to pressure the state. Journalists, however, do not simply respond to consensus. Instead, I find that they can actively construct consensus by offering unique frames that depoliticize advocacy. These findings contribute to our understanding of media coverage of social problems by illustrating how consensus is both shaped by and shapes journalist practices.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Media Culture Society

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oak : sage publisher., 2011

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

01634437

Classification

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Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Vol. 33 no. 8, November 2011,pp. 1166-1184

Subject(s)

Journalist
Social movements
Media
activism
Female genital cutting
Journalism, advocacy and the social construction
Journalist practices
Social problems

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