The relationship between protesters and journalists is a complex one. Protestors seek media attention to recruit members and draw support for their cause, while journalists need dramatic demonstrations to headline news stories. This tension makes it difficult to find a middle ground where both parties can achieve their goals.
For decades, media coverage of protests has been dominated by a narrative of confrontation. As a result, protesters have been accused of using violence and destruction to attract the media’s attention. In the field of communication studies, this pattern is known as the “protest paradigm.”
As an exception to the protest paradigm, NPR’s coverage of Black Lives Matter demonstrations has highlighted the overwhelming majority of demonstrators whose actions were peaceful. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been enough to dispel the image of protesters as violent troublemakers.
To counteract the tendency of the media to focus on protesters who engage in destructive behavior, NPR has also reported a great many articles that emphasize the positive aspects of protests. In addition, NPR has published a number of videos that portray protesters in a variety of settings.
But does focusing on the positive aspects of protests undermine the purpose of the movement? That question has become a major concern for both social movement scholars and journalism researchers.