The press didn’t just take up the role of reporting events and history; they were part of the shapers of history. They played vital roles in movements that birthed policies favourable to society and the rights of the people. They brought attention and awareness to matters that needed government intervention and were a concern to the vast masses.
Journalism shaped civil rights by taking it from the streets to amplify the voice of the people on the news, on television, in newspapers, and even on the radio. This not only amplified but also strengthened the voice of the people. The intensity of these movements achieved by the role of the press, pressured policy makers, shaped legacy, and influenced public opinion.
Early Civil Rights Reporting
The Murder of Emmett Till
The murder of Till was one of the many cases that triggered the civil rights movement against racism and brutality. Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam murdered Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old boy, on August 28th, 1995. This happened in Mississippi. Why? Because the wife of Byrant, Carolyn Bryant, accused the boy of inappropriate behavior.
The mother of the boy decided to do an open-casket burial for the boy. She wanted the world to see how they brutally battered and murdered her son.
The open-casket funeral of Till, which was published in Jet magazine, blew the case up. It drew public attention to racial violence in the US.
This led to a civil rights movement for black lives and against racism. Till’s case wasn’t the first. Before his case, there had been many similar events. But they were not caught on visuals, so they didn’t garner a lot of attention.
The Little Rock Nine
This civil rights movement was born as a result of nine African Americans who enrolled in a high school named Little Rock Central in 1957. These students were not allowed access to school because it was racially segregated. This happened continually up until an intervention was made by the president at the time, Dwight. D Eisenhower.
What led to the civil rights movement was the students’ boldness and bravery in standing up against injustice. This information was made known to the public because television and newspaper reporters dedicated coverage of the event.
Media Influence on Policy
Media influence fosters the change of policies because, when injustice is visible, it moves from a rumour to national concern, and then it is harder to ignore. Media influence is simply the link between public awareness and policy changes. When the media brings to the knowledge of the people the ongoing injustice, they tend to fight for what is right.
A notable example is the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in 1965. Peaceful protesters tried to cross the Edmum Pettus Bridge and were violently attacked by state troopers. National TV networks broadcast the events nationwide. Millions saw the event and tagged it as Bloody Sunday.
The event made many come out to request federal voting protections. A few months later, thanks to the political pressure generated, they passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Ways Media Can Foster Policy Change
Focus: Media influence can foster policy changes through attention and focus. How this works is that the media, especially when independent, can determine what information is presented to the public and the government. So, constant hammering on a particular topic to continually draw the attention of the people to it can foster change.
Framing: In this case, the media doesn’t foster policy changes by only talking continuously on a topic; they also frame the topic from an angle that cannot be ignored. This could be done through the use of language, images, visuals, and so on to catch the attention of the people. This shapes the public’s perception of a particular issue.
Pressuring Leaders: Whether it’s through social media, voicing public opinion, or even through journalism as the watchdog of the government, when there’s constant pressure on the government, policies change. Constant pressure on policymakers fosters policy changes, and this constant pressure is built through a perspective born out of media narrative.
Risks Faced by Journalists
Some risks faced by Journalists during the Civil Rights Movement were:
Violence: Journalists covering events during the civil rights movement were mostly beaten, so much so that most times they even had their cameras broken. This was an utmost violation for the journalists and a risk they had to face during these times just so they could properly cover events, present information to the public, and hold the government accountable.
Censorship: In this case, the journalists were either censored as a form of retaliation from the government and other bodies, or they even censored themselves because of fear. During this time, the law would punish journalists for coverage or even silence them, authorities would limit their level of information and access, and even the police would seize their materials and destroy their footage. Journalists were seen as threats, and they were highly targeted for covering events like protests.
Professional Downturn: This is one of the risks faced by Journalists and media outlets that are dependent or owned by the government. During the times of civil movement, if journalists had coverage that involved the government or anything that would affect large corporations, they would slip it away.
This was because these large corporations and the government either owned the media outlets or they were funding them through advertising and other means. The fear of losing such financial contributors and risking the end of their career made them shy away from such reports.
Public Backlash: Journalists and media houses that were bold enough to speak up and talk about sensitive matters that needed policy changes were oftentimes criticized. They were labelled as activists and were accused of stirring up trouble in society with their reports. Even when presented with facts, they were accused of being biased or sentimental, which would most often come from people who had opposing views.
Long-term Societal Impact
Civil rights didn’t just have an impact that was once, and for all; its impact happened once again, and not only shaped history, but also the outcome of society in recent times. The privileges and access enjoyed today are a result of the policies and changes enforced in the past.
The long-term societal impact of civil rights movements includes:
Improved Educational System: As a result of civil rights movements made in the past, there has been a significant improvement in the educational system. Access to schools by African Americans or black people in general has experienced an upward turn.
Racism isn’t totally extinct in the educational system, but it’s no longer as bad as it was in times past, and blacks can study whatever they desire without limitation.
Change in Policies: Due to the effect of the civil rights movement, there have been fair changes made to policies to combat racism and oppression. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made sure that the occurrence of segregation in public sectors and discrimination in employment was banned. Another policy affected by the civil rights movement is the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This policy ensured that the suppression of voters was eliminated from the legal system. Giving everyone the fair and legal right to vote.
Political Changes: When disenfranchisement was finally abolished, African Americans rapidly became involved in the political and voting system. Over the decades, the structural changes allowed for greater voter access and the election of many Black officials at the local, state, and federal levels. The election of Barack Obama in 2008 is a clear example.
Lessons for the Day
There are so many lessons to learn for the day with respect to the role of the press in the civil rights movement.
The Movement Evolves: Civil rights advocacy has not slowed down. Rather, it’s evolving. Specific movements might differ in context and strategy. But they all have one goal. And that goal is fighting for equality and justice.
Social Media is a Tool: Journalism has taken a new turn with the digital era. This is both a good and a bad thing. The impact of digital media mainly depends on the verification, distribution, and interpretation of information. Not just by journalists, but also by the public.
Ethical Standards are Still Important: Whether it’s a journalist covering a movement or a citizen trying to bring attention to a civil issue, ethics should still stand. It is important that ethical codes and standards like accuracy, transparency, fairness, and the like are still in place during the coverage or movement of civil rights.
This helps to not blur the line and keep the attention focused on what’s important without spreading misinformation and misleading people. To make an impact, civil rights have to be built on the right standards, codes, and ethics.
Why History Matters
The history of civil rights does not matter today, just for the purpose of fulfilling a particular academic curriculum, or looking for a point of debate, or to bond with family. No, it does way deeper than that and has impactful meanings that can still shape the future. Some reasons why the History of civil rights movements still matters today are:
It Points out Patterns: The people involved in the story may change, but the patterns never change. Revisiting civil rights history opens the eyes of the people to see acts that used to happen in the past and easily spot them when they come up again.
This, however, is not a call for violence, and so matters when observed should not be taken into one’s hand.
It’s a Call to Speak up: Injustice breeds best in the face of secrecy. Historical civil rights movements have taught readers that when injustice is voiced, and the press amplifies that voice, fair policies happen. Based on past events, readers are expected to speak up, as that is the only way for changes to occur legally.
Journalism Encouragement: If journalists look back at past works and civil rights coverage that birthed a revolution, it can also encourage journalists in present times to cover current cases of injustice. These past victories can also fuel the mindset of recent victories and birth pioneers of change in an ever-revolving world.
Helps Understand Power: One important aspect of knowing the history of civil rights in a society and the role the press plays in advancing these rights is understanding power. Continuous public scrutiny and media exposure can make those in power to respond to social demands and policy failures.
The government is responsible for the well-being of its citizens, and where they refuse to effect change in favour of the people, then they are not being accountable enough.
Conclusion
The role of the press in civil rights movements still remains essential and effective to this day. As Watchdogs of society, they are placed with the responsibility of ensuring the public safety of the people, passing correct information, and holding the government accountable. The press has the responsibility of ensuring civil rights are established, not by picking sides, but by not turning their eyes away in the face of injustice.
