Race, Gender and Politics: Media Coverage of the Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court Nomination

When President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, it wasn’t just a historic moment — it was a case study of how the U.S. news media cover stories involving race, gender and politics.

New research by Rachel Grant, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Journalism assistant professor, and Benjamin Johnson, Advertising associate professor and STEM Translational Communication Center interim director, examined media portrayals of this pivotal event. The studies in their report shed light on how prevailing media narratives remain entrenched within a framework dominated by white, patriarchal viewpoints. This, in turn, limits a more nuanced understanding of what nominees like Jackson represent.

The researchers analyzed hundreds of news stories about Jackson and her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court for phrases and sentences that focused on Black women’s identity and oppression. Additionally, they presented variations of news articles to 349 participants aged 21–69 to discover how news audiences responded to information about identity and empowerment in coverage of the nomination.

Despite widespread acknowledgment of the historic nature of Jackson’s nomination, the researchers found that media coverage was predominantly fixated on political implications, specifically, how her potential judicial decisions might influence the ideological balance of the Supreme Court. This emphasis on political strategy often overshadowed information about Jackson’s personal achievements and the broader significance of her nomination for Black women and marginalized communities in America.

In the experimental portion of the project, where participants viewed news articles, the researchers found that emphasizing racial progress and the nomination’s historical context had minimal impact on shifting public opinion about Jackson’s nomination. However, articles highlighting endorsements from legal experts, particularly white ones, helped to bolster support for Jackson. Notably, when these endorsements appeared alongside themes of Black empowerment, support for Jackson also increased, particularly when the endorsing figures were liberal.

The researchers highlight the benefits of “intersectional journalism,” a more inclusive reporting approach that considers the multiple facets of people’s identities, such as race, gender and class. This type of journalism seeks to provide a broader and more nuanced view of events, illustrating how they impact various communities differently. Intersectional journalism challenges the dominant narratives that often prevail in mainstream media and strives to include diverse perspectives and experiences, making the news more relatable and relevant to a wider audience.

Grant and Johnson argue that as the media landscape evolves, the call for more inclusive and intersectional reporting becomes increasingly important. Media organizations that take an intersectional approach to reporting the news can help humanize Black women and break down stereotypes by showcasing their diverse and complex identities. This approach not only affects how political figures are perceived, but also shapes public discourse on democracy and representation.

The original article, “It All Begins With a Name: Examining News During the Ketanji Brown Jackson Judicial Nomination,” was published online in Journalism Practice on April 17, 2024.

Authors: Rachel Grant and Benjamin K. Johnson

This summary was written by Gisele McAuliffe.