Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly Special Issue Deadline Extension June 9, 2021
Posted by Mia Moody-Ramirez in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe Role of Communications in the Black Lives Matter Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement marks an important period in US history that scholars must continue to study from many angles—including the use of communication in grassroots activism.
To date, there have been more than 41 million Black Lives Matter tweets, and the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag is also prevalent on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Still, little is known about the role of communication tools in the creation and perpetuation of the BLM movement.
The intensity and perception of the BLM movement continues to evolve. A tipping point in the movement occurred on May 25, 2020, when white police officers killed George Floyd by placing his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd, who allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill, was in handcuffs. People from all over the world began protesting systemic racism and police brutality. Many social media users expressed their opinions and demanded action— often using the #BLM hashtag to garner support for the movement to end police brutality and other social injustices.
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly is soliciting submissions for a special issue on the Black Lives Movement with a focus on communication channels, grassroots efforts, and social movements. We are seeking research contributions that examine social media activism and the use of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag in the broader of the social movement.
Manuscripts may explore a range of topics, including the BLM movement as one outcome of citizen frustration and a catalyst for policy change. Other topics may include dominant myths and stereotypical narratives of blackness and how those are framed and reframed on social media channels. Also of interest are the effects of social media on citizen engagement and activism; and the impact of gender and globalization on the BLM movement.
Contributions to this special issue may employ a variety of methodological approaches and explore different forms of communication, including newspapers, social media platforms, and broadcast media. Submissions are encouraged to examine a range of dominant frames, myths and social media narratives that depict BLM in a negative light and how the BLM movement has countered some of these narratives and been able to reframe them in a more positive manner.
This special issue will provide an opportunity for theory-building toward more comprehensive, comparative models of social media effects in the BLM movement.
Extended deadline for Submissions: July 15, 2021
Expected Publication: Summer 2022
Guest Editors: Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, Mia_Moody@baylor.edu, Baylor University &
Earnest Perry, Missouri School of Journalism, perryel@missouri.edu.