Guest Eric Deggans Discusses Race in Media
Source/Author: Shorecrest Ebytes
February 02, 2016
Thank you to journalist Eric Deggans for coming to Shorecrest last month to discuss race in the media as the final installment of the 2015-2016 Willis Leadership Lecture series. In addition to being a TV Critic for NPR (and formerly for the “Tampa Bay Times”), Deggans is the author of “Race-Baiter: How Media Wield Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.”
The use of both words and images in media to relay subtle messages to audiences was the broad topic discussed in the Janet Root Theatre with Shorecrest Upper School students. Deggans expressed to students that, similar to the 1960s, media is at the center of stories on race and prejudice. What audiences see and hear, as well as what is purposefully omitted, slants stories. This retelling leaves gaps where stories break down - and most often Deggans has found the gaps center around race, culture, gender and class.
Digging a bit deeper, Deggans brought up the idea that stereotypes about marginalized groups, as well as the standard of what is desirable often found in privileged groups, and how both can be used as tools to achieve political or material gain.
A bit of power we all have lies in our hip pockets, however. Cellphone video taken on the fly, unexpectedly, lets viewers decide for themselves about institutionalized racism.
Finally, Deggans told students why they should care about such issues. To sum up, they should all be concerned with accuracy in journalism, decisions being made by law enforcement and how modern media helps teens define boundaries and dream bigger.
Eric Deggans' writing has appeared in the New York Times online, Salon magazine, CNN.com, the Washington Post, Village Voice, VIBE magazine, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Seattle Times, Emmy magazine, Newsmax magazine, Rolling Stone Online and a host of other newspapers across the country. He is Chair of the Media Monitoring Committee for the National Association of Black Journalists. He was awarded the Florida Press Club's first-ever Diversity award, honoring his coverage of issues involving race and media. He received the Legacy award from the National Association of Black Journalists' A&E Task Force, an honor bestowed to "seasoned A&E journalists who are at the top of their careers," among numerous reporting and writing awards.
