Table Of ContentCross-Cultural Journalism
Built on the hands-on reporting style and curriculum pioneered by the Missouri School of
Journalism, this introductory textbook teaches students how to write about and communicate
with people of backgrounds that may be different from their own, offering real-world
examples of how to practice excellent journalism and strategic communication that take
culture into account. Specifically, the book addresses how to:
engage with and talk across difference;
identify the ways bias can creep into our communications, and how to mitigate our
tendencies toward bias;
use the concept of fault lines and approach sources and audiences with humility and
respect;
communicate with audiences about the complexity inherent in issues of crime,
immigration, sports, health inequalities, among other topics;
interpret census data categories and work with census data to craft stories or create
strategic campaign strategies;
reconsider common cultural assumptions about race, class, gender, identity, sexual
orientation, immigration status, religion, disability, and age, and recognize their
evolving and constructed meaning and our role as professional communicators in
shaping national discussions of these issues.
In addition to its common sense, practical approach, the book’s chapters are written by
national experts and leading scholars on the subject. Interviews with award-winning
journalists, discussion questions, suggested activities, and additional readings round out this
timely and important new textbook. Cross-Cultural Journalism offers journalists and other
communication professionals the conceptual framework and practical know-how they need to
report and communicate effectively about difference.
María E. Len-Ríos is Associate Professor of Public Relations at the Grady College, University
of Georgia. Before earning a doctorate in Journalism from the University of Missouri, she
worked in advertising/public relations and marketing in Atlanta. She taught the cross-cultural
journalism course at Missouri for ten years. In 2014-2015 she served as a board member of the
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Earnest L. Perry is Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at the Missouri School of
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Journalism. Before earning a doctorate in Journalism from the University of Missouri, he
worked as a newspaper journalist in Texas, Connecticut and Illinois. He is the lead instructor
of the cross-cultural journalism course at Missouri, which began in 1998 and was one of the
first required journalism diversity courses in the country.
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Cross-Cultural Journalism
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Communicating Strategically About Diversity
Edited by
María E. Len-Ríos and
Earnest L. Perry
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First published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2016 Taylor & Francis
The right of the editors to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the
authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-78488-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-78489-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-76811-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Warnock Pro
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Publisher: Erica Wetter
Editorial Assistant: Simon Jacobs
Production Editor: Reanna Young
Copyeditor: Liz Barker-Woods
Proof-reader: Dana Richards
Indexer: Birgitte Necessary
Cover concept by Kara Wexler, design by Gareth Toye
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Brief Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Part One Conceptual Grounding
1 Conceptual Understanding
Earnest L. Perry and María E. Len-Ríos
2 Talking Across Difference
Keith M. Woods
3 Who Is American?
Saleem E. Alhabash and Carie Cunningham
Part Two Application
4 Making Class Matter: Journalism and Social Class
Ryan J. Thomas and Marina A. Hendricks
5 Gender and the Media: Envisioning Equality
Yong Volz and María E. Len-Ríos
6 Mass Media and the LGBT Community
Gary R. Hicks
7 Missing in Action: Religion in Mass Media Markets and News
Debra L. Mason
8 Reporting and Strategic Communication Across Borders
Beverly Horvit and Yulia Medvedeva
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9 Immigrants and Immigration: Reporting the New America
Melita M. Garza
10 Achieving Excellence in Crime Coverage
Earnest L. Perry and Teri Finneman
11 The Complexity of Disability
Chad Painter
12 Rx for Communicating About Health Inequalities
Amanda Hinnant and María E. Len-Ríos
13 Talkin’ ’bout My Generation: Understanding Generational
Differences
Teri Finneman
14 Race and Gender in Sports
Cynthia M. Frisby
15 Next: Where Do We Go from Here?
María E. Len-Ríos and Earnest L. Perry
About the Cover Design
Contributors
Index
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Part One Conceptual Grounding
1 Conceptual Understanding
Earnest L. Perry and María E. Len-Ríos
The Concept of Excellence and Excellent Journalism
Context
Complexity
Voices
Authenticity
Proportionality
Fault Lines
Box 1.1 The Five Fault Lines—Maynard Institute
Privilege
Chapter Summary
Suggested Activities
2 Talking Across Difference
Keith M. Woods
Frames for the Conversation
Frames for the Conversation: Attribution Theory
Frames for the Conversation: Talking Across Difference
Be Honest
Seek Clarification
Challenge with Passion, not Poison
Be Open to Change
Stay in the Room
Talking Across Difference: The Other Side of the Conversation
For Discussion
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Suggested Activities
3 Who Is American?
Saleem E. Alhabash and Carie Cunningham
Understanding Stereotypes
Take a Moment to Think!
What Are Stereotypes?
Social Categorization
The U.S. Census Bureau: Defining Who Is American
The U.S. Census: A Historical Overview
Recent Census Findings and Future Projections
Minority vs. Majority vs. Plurality
Interracial Relationships: The Future?
Chapter Summary: Responsibilities or Obligations
Box 3.1 From the Field: Jorge Rodas, Reporter, WIFR TV, Rockford
Box 3.2 From the Field: Matt Tiedgen, Vice President, Lead Marketing Agency
Box 3.3 Tips for Journalists
Box 3.4 Tips for Strategic Communicators
For Discussion
Suggested Activities
Part Two Application
4 Making Class Matter: Journalism and Social Class
Ryan J. Thomas and Marina A. Hendricks
Social Class and the American Dream
Box 4.1 From the Field: Class Conflict
Class in the United States
Box 4.2 Class Strata
For Discussion
Box 4.3 From the Field: Words Matter
Why Class Matters
For Discussion
Box 4.4 From the Field: “It’s Important to be Respectful”
Journalism and Social Class
Context
Complexity
Voices
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