Media Coverage of Black Shooting Victims (Part II): “Thugs” in the News Media

  In a recent post, Media Coverage of Black Shooting Victims (Part I), we considered how the media uses negative portrayals of black shooting victims to imply that police brutality against black victims is somehow justifiable. We explored how the news media’s use of mug shots or unflattering photos of the victims and its assassination… Read More

Police Body Cameras: Effective Tool To Stop Police Misconduct?

With media attention focusing on police violence, many cities are looking to expand the use of police body cameras. Cities using body cameras hope that recording officers’ encounters with suspects will curb police brutality, make officers accountable for their excessive force, and provide everyone with more information about what happened. But the use of police… Read More

Freddie Gray and the Blue Wall Syndrome

Although Freddie Gray was rendered comatose in Baltimore police custody, all six police officers involved deny using or witnessing any force during Mr. Gray’s fatal encounter with the police.  And yet a bystander’s video of the arrest depicts Mr. Gray, flanked by officers and screaming in pain, while someone yells that Gray’s leg is broken… Read More