Last October, The Opportunity Agenda, a New York-based advocacy group, released a new report about the influence of media in regards to national perceptions of African-American men. The report, “Opportunity for Black Men and Boys: Public Opinion, Media Depictions, and Media Consumption,” covered a decade’s worth of research, concluding that depictions of black males were frequently distorted and unrealistically presented in media compared to national data sets and statistics.
The Opportunity Agenda Executive Director, Alan Jenkins, will join Dori J. Maynard, president of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, for a webinar presentation next month to discuss the report’s findings.
The one-hour web broadcast, scheduled for May 3 at 3 p.m., will examine how Americans’ attitudes towards African-American males are potentially shaped by media portrayals, including the depictions of black youth in news reports, advertising and entertainment.
Additionally, Jenkins and Maynard are expected to discuss ways in which media outlets can change the way they present depictions of African-American youth. According to a press release for the event, the “Briefing on Media Coverage of Black Males” webinar will instruct media personnel on how to “be part of the solution in creating a fuller picture of black men and boys, greater knowledge and fewer irrational fears of innocent black males.”
The webinar requires registration, which can be accessed at the Opportunity Agenda website.
