Must I follow the script?: Professional objectivity, journalistic roles and the Black community journalist

Abstract

This study examines how Black journalists in local legacy newspapers, digital startup media and historically Black newspapers have expressed journalistic objectivity and enacted journalistic roles. Findings showed more neutral coverage in historically white media, which was expected, while coverage in the historically Black newspaper and the digital startup reflected an advocacy role—one that did not fit within the four expected roles. Also, a “clarifier” role emerged in which journalists encouraged local protest groups to distinguish their identities.