Bursting the Bubble: A Case Study of Counter-framing in the Editorial Pages

Abstract

Research continues to show troubling patterns in racial discourse in conventional news reporting on public policy. This article argues that the editorial pages of mainstream newspapers are more likely spaces for counter discourses on race and policy to emerge and take root. A case study of how op-ed contributors represented the racial aspects of the subprime mortgage crisis is presented here as an example of how editorial pages may supply readers with opportunities to reflect upon and challenge dominant discourses of race, wealth production, and housing. The article suggests that, given the continued agenda-setting power of mainstream news, critical scholars should endeavor to utilize the op-ed as one strategy for interrupting dominant racial discourse.