Media coverage of protests is largely episodic and focuses on what is happening while the protest occurs, rather than taking into account the broader implications of social movements. This approach privileges elite power holders who are typically represented by news media as sources, and reinforces existing social order. NPR is working to change this paradigm by addressing the underlying issues and providing more context to the public.
One of the biggest challenges is balancing the episodes of protest violence, property destruction and other incidents with stories that give voice to the people who are participating in those events. This requires a greater investment of time in research and reporting that addresses broader implications.
Another challenge is finding a way to report on the fact that the majority of demonstrations are peaceful. Currently, the media tends to note only those that result in conflict or property damage and neglects to mention that the vast majority of protests do not (NPR, 2020).
We have found that one way to counter these trends is to focus on personal testimonies in traditional and online mainstream press. This method expresses proximity in both the media and protesters through portrait photography on social media platforms. However, this approach is limited by the constraints of polysystem theory and a lack of accountability for the journalists and protesters involved. As a result, it is not sustainable and must be replaced by a more collaborative model that is consistent with the goals of both groups.