A new study looks at redefining racial broadcast norms
A new study brings to the forefront the continued problems Black female journalists face in electronic news spaces.
The findings were featured in “#WheresTiffany: Redefining Racial Broadcast Norms With Tiffany Cross’ MSNBC Removal” by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Journalism Associate Professor Rachel Grant and Indiana University Bloomington Assistant Professor Lisa Lenoir. The article was published in Journalism & Mass Communications Quarterly on April 29.
The abrupt November 2022 cancellation of Tiffany Cross’s The Cross Connection on MSNBC, just before the midterm elections, sparked the #WheresTiffany hashtag campaign to protest the removal of a prominent Black female voice.
The authors analyzed the Twitter discourse of the #WheresTiffany hashtag and found the following discourses: The Cronkite Effect, Racialized Objectivity and Misogynoir. The reaction to Cross’ cancellation brings to the forefront the continued problems Black female journalists face in electronic news spaces.
“This study explores Black female anchors within ‘post-racial’ U.S. politics. We argue Cross’ platform and presence as a Black female journalist reconstructed hegemonic broadcast news norms,” they write. “Future studies should explore interviews and focus groups with cable news viewers as well as interviewing Black female journalists to discuss their behavior and news delivery techniques. Further, we see more analysis of “the Cronkite effect,” and how he established broadcast journalism boundaries and norms in not only what anchors should look like; but also, how they should deliver news.”
They add, “Users were able to pin-point the post-racial dynamics happening on cable news; but also, they saw the impact of Black women’s voices and existence being uplifted to raise consciousness and presenting multiple views connected to social justice and change.”
Category: College News
Tagged: #WheresTiffany Journalism MSNBC Rachel Grant
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