Examining Media Bias Around Higher Education: The Dominant Culture’s Portrayal of Historically Black Colleges in the Media

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: The Impact of Internationalization on U.S. Faculty

Abstract

In recent years, a look at the media coverage of historically black colleges portrays endless skepticism about the accountability and academic inferiority of these universities. Also, various media outlets have questioned the continued need of historically black colleges in post racial society. Researchers (Shaw, 1979) of agenda setting insist that the media are unique when it comes to the art of persuasion. Shaw (1979) argues that the media are persuasive in focusing public attention on specific events, issue and persons when determining the importance that people attach to public matters (p.96). This critical analysis examines the bias evident in the media’s coverage of Fisk University and Florida A& M University.

Author

• Charmaine E Troy, Morgan State University