Editor’s Note: Eric Deggans serves as TV/media critic for the Tampa Bay Times, and is the author of "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation," a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuels some elements of modern media.
By Eric Deggans, Special to CNN
(CNN) - One year after an explosion of press attention made it one of the most-covered news stories in the first half of 2012, the question seems obvious:
Has the news media learned anything about covering race issues in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting?
Considering how little attention the case garners today, it is tough to remember just 12 months ago how much journalists obsessed on this story, when unarmed, African-American teen Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in a Sanford, Florida, subdivision on Feb. 26, 2012.
For a time, it was second in coverage only to the presidential election, as Martin’s family pressed a reluctant Sanford police department and Florida prosecutors to arrest Zimmerman for fatally shooting a teenager armed only with a bag of candy and a bottle of iced tea. As condemnation of Zimmerman grew, a cadre of supporters, often in conservative media outlets, arose to decry a rush to judgment while challenging the family’s depiction of Martin as an innocent child.
Too often, news audiences seemed caught in the middle, ill-served by coverage which often seemed focused on serving the news outlet’s own priorities as much as informing the public.
Twelve months later, it may seem as if little has changed. But there are subtle lessons to be learned about the shape of modern media from the impact of the Trayvon Martin case, some that are shared in "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation:"
We only talk about race issues in crisis.
One reason so much coverage of the Martin case spun off into issues such as racial profiling, fashion (Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt when killed), murder rates among African Americans and the power of racism allegations, is because mainstream media outlets spend so little time talking about race issues outside the pressing controversy of a major news story. When big news strikes centered on race, that’s often the only time the world pays attention.
Unfortunately, that’s when people are least likely to have an open-minded discussion about anything, as passions rise and positions harden. In an environment like that, quality journalism looking at the racial elements of "stand your ground" laws (allowing individuals to defend themselves with deadly force in public spaces if they feel their life is in danger) or racial profiling may get lots of attention, but their lessons can be lost as people search to find confirmation for their own convictions.
Subjects of big news stories will increasingly become media outlets themselves.
Once he agreed to serve as Zimmerman’s attorney after his mid-April arrest, Orlando-area attorney Mark O’Mara set up websites, Twitter accounts and a Facebook page (now inactive) aimed at releasing their perspective on the case and channeling donations to Zimmerman’s legal defense fund. On his sites, O’Mara provides information on legal filings, critiques press coverage and releases his own statements without relying on journalists’ filter or interpretation.
His website, for instance, calls an April 22 hearing a “self-defense immunity hearing,” avoiding use of the term “stand your ground,” which has drawn so much negative attention as critics complain the law is flawed and unfairly applied across race lines.
Even the most basic notions of journalism fairness are challenged by the modern media environment.
Much as some critics may have complained about liberal activist Al Sharpton serving as both a spokesman for Martin’s family and host of a 6 p.m. show on NBC-owned cable news channel MSNBC, allowing Sharpton to appear in MSNBC’s coverage and also stand at the center of the story seemed to have paid off for the channel.
MSNBC president Phil Griffin told the website Mediaite that the channel’s audience with black viewers rose 60 percent in 2012, in part because of their coverage on stories of concern to people of color, including the Martin case and voter ID laws seen as unfairly impacting racial minorities. That viewership has helped it move past CNN in prime time ratings, as consumers respond to an ever more ideologically split cable news environment.
It’s no surprise Zimmerman eventually told his story to conservative Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, who had been asking about a rush to judgment against the shooter since the story’s earliest days.
But what does it mean when some news channel hosts abandon the notion of being an honest broker in a controversial news story?
In the end, the frantic pressure forced news outlets to play to their strengths: print outlets tried to own the facts and details, TV (especially on the network morning shows and cable news channels) channeled emotion and reaction, while online platforms concentrated activism and those willing to obsessively focus on the case.
News outlets may not be much better at covering race now than one year ago, but we news consumers have received a crash course on how these incendiary issues play out in the super-fractured, 24/7 media world.
Now, another question arises: Can we put those lessons to work the next time a race-based controversy eats up the news cycle?
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Eric Deegans.
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Why is this a race issue? Zimmerman is half Hispanic (and looks it)
How does anyone know why was said and done that night? Only God knows! If this man killed that child with intent to murder and than God will handle that and if there was a fight only God knows! Please people stop let God do his work; either one of these people that is at fault for this situation has to see God! Not one of you will gain anything by arguing on a message board.
Very well put, Lisa. I agree. My prayer when someone has hurt me is "May God bless them in the way they should be blessed according to His will." I also so call them, "that wonderful creation of God". I believe all of His creations are wonderful. I'm not pious in any way, but it takes a lot of sting out of the hurt when putting it in God's hands. Blessings for you and yours!
teaches us that every time you get in trouble with a black the other person is always a racist or a hate crime, stop putting race as a defense mechanism and let the justice if there is one take the case objectively and w/o any bias.
"Has the news media learned anything about covering race issues in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting?" That is NOT the question. The question is: "Has the media learned to present all the facts and not withhold information so it can inflame readers' emotions and potentially ruin the life of a potentially innocent man?" The answer is clearly: "No!"
Why did he deserve to be shot and killed by a total stranger? Please explain.
When a total stranger tries to beat you to death and tells you he is GOING TO, then YOU can truly ask this question. Then you will know why. It is just a lack of Trayvon's knowledge that he did not realize he was threatening to KILL another man with a deadly weapon. For all people out there in the world that try to take advantage of other people in a violent way, don't. Why did he have to beat some one else?
The bottom line is that an armed adult shot an unarmed 17 year old. 17 is not considered an adult in my state. Trayvon went our for candy and tea. Sounds like a kid to me, ...he had every right to do so. He should not have been stalked or followed. He didn't have to die that day. And George will live with the outcome of his actions for the rest of his life. One way or another.
Word.
Martin already had a school disciplinary record for breaking and entering and possesing stolen jewelry. How do you know he wasn't casing the neighborhood for a burglery like Zimmerman said he was. Why did the 'kid' run when confronted by Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who was patrolling the streets on behalf of his neighbors with their consent and support? Why did the Kid beat Zimmerman bloody once he was out of breath from chasing the Kid?
MUSE.......Here's the thing......Why did GZ EVER get his fat a** out of his car period!!!!
Look, Georgie made several bad decisions and now he's looking at a murder rap. But, look, he'll plead to manslaughter before the trial begins, get sentenced to a dime, then out in 5 to 7 on good behavior. And that'll be that. He's going to get off easy. Now can we please move past this?
Really, bad decisions? When is the last time you had your house robbed and trashed because nobody in your neighborhood cared. When is the last time you had someone in your family, or possibly yourself beaten without mercy and their life threatened because some thug felt he/she didn't like the way you were FOLLOWING them. Why don't you go down to central east side Chicago into the BAD neighborhoods and just pay attention to what is happening. Don't tell us that BAD decisions are PAYING attention to something that appears out of place and wrong for the neighborhood. And please keep your meaningless legal opinions where they belong. Zimmerman was AND IS within the scope of the law of Florida law at the time of this crime. BOTH crimes.
Trayvon had NO GZ DNA on him, no abrasions on his hands or knuckles. TM screamed for help. But as long as it's a Black person dead, racists will justify it. It's as American as apple pie.
Zimmerman had a right to defend himself, if in fact he was attacked. But he should NOT have confronted Martin, particularly after he was instructed by a 911 dispatcher to break off the "pursuit." Martin may have been exercising his own version of "stand your ground" when confronted by Zimmerman. What would you think if someone who's not in any type of uniform came up to you on a dark street?
Having said that I believe this tragedy is being used by the race hustlers
Obfuscation at its best. Given the information in the media so far, people seem to be having selective amnesia! GZ going around profiling and tailing TM is wrong - but the moment TM takes down GZ and reaches for his gun, the culpability jumps shoulders! Being profiled cannot justify attempted murder (assuming TM did reach for the gun and threaten to kill GZ while pummeling him, as it seems he did). TM was unarmed, yes, but only until the moment when he reached for the gun and tried to arm himself, whereupon the whole storyline changes. It maybe convenient to wish away this last bit, and if it weren't there, GZ would be guilty as sin. But in presence of that last critical plot twist that some people are ignoring, perhaps in the interest of the bigger 'optics' of racial prejudice, TM's innocence isn't that clear-cut.
What is clear is that Trayvon was profiled and killed. If he's not completely innocent, then what is he guilty of? Being young and black? Wearing a controversial piece of clothing?
Aggravated battery at least and possibly attempted murder as Martin said he was going to kill him
There's a lot more reasonable doubt here thab in the Simpson case; that's for sure. May Florida have a swell time seating an unbiased jury without a lynch-mob mentality.
Trayvon thought it would be fun to beat the crap out of somebody, but that somebody turned out to have a gun. Give Trayvon Martin his richly deserved Darwin Award and let's move on.
GZ has the history of violence, not Trayvon, Gz has the police record, not trayvon, GZ has the history of domestic violence, not Trayvon, and who ends up dead, Trayvon. Even if it turned into a fist fight (again, no DNA evidence, or bruises on TM's hands) that does not justify the use of deadly force. GZ is a COWARD plain, and simple!
Real Lesson is how the PRESS is a mouthpiece for LIB Political witchhunt.
It's almost as if you actually believe what you wrote, LWJR.
What we can learn from the Martin shooting, is that the black leaders and media are complicit in ignoring the real ongoing epidemic of black deaths. The death rate among black young men is sending a generation to their grave early. Thousands of black on black homicides have occurred since the Martin shooting, but no leadership, no news, no concern.
blah
Exactly.
GI Jon, you were there and you saw Trevon (this black kid) sucker punch Zimmerman. Trevon was walking to his dad's home not bothering anyone and GZ decided Trevon was up to no good so he followed him and killed him. GZ is not the law and had no right to follow Trevon. GZ will lie to save his butt.
Zimmerman had every right to walk down the same sidewalk as Trayvon. Trayvon decided to start beating Zimmerman to death, but Zimmerman had a gun to stop Trayvon. Legitimate self-defense for sure. Sharpton never misses a chance to start a riot.
It always amazes me how people twist the facts and the evidence in this case. No matter how you spin it, a witness saw Zimmerman on the ground with Trayvon on top and hitting him, the witness yelled at Trayon to get off of him, but Trayvon continued hitting Zimmerman. That is no longer a fight, but attempted murder, and all evidence points to that. This is open and shut case, Zimmerman had no choice but to defend his LIFE. This has always been about self defense from the very beginning.
You are naive. Trayvon was stalked and was scared. It's a very simple scenario that plays out sociologically and culturally. He's being followed by a guy in van who then gets out and confronts him with no authority to do so. Zimmerman realizes that he's in over his head in the confrontation and pulls his gun. Dead black kid. At each juncture it was Zimmerman's decision to engage. Result: dead kid. You seem to be convinced that Zimmerman did things correctly based upon some unverbalized code or understanding. Nauseating.
You want to bring Zimmermans past up but neglect travons past like being suspended for having burglary tools at school and that is exactly what he was being followed for and not being black and according to zimmerman travon attacked him he was just defending himself
Why is it that no one understands that if Zimmerman had stayed in his vehicle as directed by the 911 operator TRAVON WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!! Even more importantly, Zimmerman followed Travon, SO....What about Travon's rRIGHT TO STAND HIS GROUND!!!!!!
Exactly, and that is much of the problem with "stand your ground" laws. Zimmerman's bad judgement in over-zealous community watch activity combined with Travon's adolescent issues & problems to create a physical confrontation. Mistakes (stupidity, folks with problems) are inevitable. Throw in the sanctioning of the use of lethal force whenever a person feels endangered and the recipe for senseless and unnecessary death is complete. Neither Zimmerman nor Travon strike me as being the "bad guy" here, but the flaws in both combined in a way that created a tragic altercation. Add a gun and the likelihood of that tragedy being a deadly one was increased.
Zimmerman was standing by his vehicle when Trayvon assaulted him. These Black Panthers never let facts and legal process get in the way of their race-baiting.
What you can learn from the Trayvon Martin case? Don't raise thugs and pretend your kids are holy little querubim before the rest of the world.
Jorge, what evidence do you have that Travon was a thug?... but let's say he was... Zimmerman started followed him, not the other way around. Thug or not...did he not have the right to defend himself? Perhaps if one of your children were killed defending themselves from a stranger following them though thier own neighborhood... you would think differently. I feel sorry for you.
Thing to learn from the Zimmerman case: Don't raise your boys to be paranoid vigilantes.
Sorry, but the "Trayvon Martin Case" is another example of media-created hysteria and race-baiting , just like the OJ Simpson trial fiasco.
and where is OJ?
No it's the case where a black kid sucker punches a white man and gets shot travon wasn't defending himself he was the agressor although it sucks he got shot
none of the evidence supports everything that you just said. that's all