Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Reed College of Media

Department

Reed College of Media

Committee Chair

Joseph Jones

Committee Co-Chair

Angela Cartwright

Committee Member

Julia Fraustino

Committee Member

Ashton Marra

Abstract

This thesis critically examines how mainstream media outlets construct and perpetuate racial narratives through their coverage of high-profile incidents involving Black public figures. Using the case study of NFL player Tyreek Hill’s encounter with Miami-Dade police on September 8, 2024, the research employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) to analyze news articles from six major outlets: The New York Times, NBC News, CBS News, ESPN, Fox News and CNN. The study explores how language choices, framing techniques, and contextual elements in media reporting influence public perceptions of race, celebrity and criminal justice. Findings reveal that while media coverage foregrounds Hill’s celebrity status, it often neutralizes the racial dynamics of the incident and privileges institutional voices over marginalized perspectives. Systemic critiques of racial inequality are largely absent, with most outlets relying on procedural or individualized framing. The research shows the urgent need for more equitable media practices and highlights the transformative potential of counter-narratives in challenging entrenched biases. This study contributes to ongoing conversations about responsible journalism and racial justice in contemporary society, by revealing the subtle mechanisms through which media discourse shapes societal attitudes toward race.

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