The Obamas and Mass Media

Using the cultural prism of race, this book critically examines the image of African Americans in media of the twenty-first century. Further, the authors assess the ways in which media focused on gender, religion, and politics in framing perceptions of the President and First Lady of the United States during the Obama administration.

"The Obamas and Mass Media offers a potent argument that the media we create and consume reflect social mores and taboos. This will be an important book, because it matches cogent discussions of theories concerning race and identity, with powerfully representative case studies drawn from highly mediated and contested moments during the Obama administration." - Meta G. Carstarphen, Associate Professor, Graduate Director, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma, USA

"This book is a great contribution to the field. Of particular notice and value are the literature reviews and discussions from a general perspective followed by the case studies. I believe this it should be used in any class that teaches about diversity issues in news and social media. It should also be a 'must read' for news editors across the country." - Federico Subveri, Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent State University, USA

"Coon songs. Black Sambo. Spades, pimps, hoes. The media's depictions of African Americans has, for most of two centuries, been unrelentingly negative, occasionally condescending, and more often, out-right venomous. The Obamas and Mass Media is a systematic chronicle of the ways, subtle and overt, that the various facets and outlets of the national and social media covered the candidacy and presidency of America's first African American president. Dates and Moody-Ramirez have assembled the definitive bookon the mass media's often troubling depiction of race in the United States. Readable, profusely documented, insightful, and challenging, the book is both essential and overdue, a fascinating look at a sometimes heart-breaking subject. Highly recommended." - Robert Darden, Associate Professor, Journalism, Public Relations, and New Media, Baylor University, USA, author of People Get Ready: A New History of Black Gospel Music

Autorentext
Author Mia Moody-Ramirez: Mia Moody-Ramirez is Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism at Baylor University, USA. Author Jannette Dates: Jannette Dates is Dean of the School of Communication and Professor of Radio, Television, and Film at Howard University, USA.

Inhalt

1. Film, Print, and Broadcast Representations of African Americans 2. Historical Stereotypes of Black Men 3. A Feminist Reading of Mass Media 4. Images of African Americans in Advertising, PR, and Social Media 5. Network News 6. New Media Systems 7. Conclusions