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Abstract

This contextual research is designed to investigate the portrayal of the Civil Rights Movement, during the 1950s and 60s, in the media. The research focuses on whether or not the movement itself was helped or hindered by any press coverage of the events that took place. In order to collect data and gain an understanding of the public attitudes towards the movement, it was important to look at newspaper clippings of key events within the movement. Some of these events included: The March on Washington, the murder of Emmett Till and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The contextual analysis carried out on these newspaper articles meant that the attitudes throughout different regions in the United States could be gathered, showing the difference in opinions and, therefore, reporting. These events were important to analyse due to their significance in history and the goals they achieved as well as the differing regions they came from to allow one to gage a narrative on this movement from across the United States.
I argue that the effect the media had on public opinion, in relation to the Civil Rights Movement, was massive. Without press coverage, news of the movement would not have been as visible or as influential around the world as it truly was. It’s impact around the world can be seen in the contextual analysis of newspaper clippings. The negative press surrounding the roots and aspirations for the movement meant that in some areas of the US, the movement began to lose support and stagnate. Despite this the fact that the progressive movement was on a global stage, for all the world to see helped its success.

Course: Sociology and Media - BSc (Hons)

Date Deposited: 2020-10-13

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13570.html