Media coverage of protests often frames them as disturbances to democracy and emphasizes destruction and violence by demonstrators, while marginalizing the core reasons behind their mobilizations. Activists criticize this framing, which they see as delegitimizing their movement’s goals in the eyes of the public.
This approach to protest coverage is problematic, because it can reinforce dominant social attitudes and lead to apathy towards the issue. Moreover, it can foster contempt for protests and its activists, a problem that can have long-term negative consequences for the movement.
A study I conducted with colleagues (Danielle Kilgo and Ramon Salaverria at the University of Minnesota, and Victor Garcia-Perdomo at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain) reveals that protesters can improve their visibility and the accuracy of media coverage through a variety of strategies. By highlighting their demands, focusing on the importance of their cause, and framing their demonstrations as a necessary response to inequality, activists can encourage journalists to provide more nuanced and positive news coverage of their movement.
In our research, we analyzed more than 1,400 news stories from 2015 spanning mainstream and alternative (including digital-only) media outlets in seven countries. We found that, irrespective of the country, most protests are reported using a ‘protest paradigm’ that prioritizes damage and confrontation and downplays the significance of protesters’ goals.
This news paradigm may be partly explained by the fact that a significant share of protesters engage in extreme tactics and advocate for radical change, challenging the hegemonic status quo. But it’s also important to remember that protesters are not simply troublemakers; they are active citizens trying to achieve positive changes in society.
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