Hispanics

As issues of crime and race again came into the national spotlight during the 1990s, many social scientists and communications scholars sought to study the portrayal of racial minorities within news media. Numerous studies documented the high rate at which persons of color were typically portrayed as violent or dangerous in newspapers and television.

In U.S. politics, religious and unaffiliated or nonreligious voters often appear to fall somewhat predictably on opposite sides of many controversial policy and “moral” issues. The issue of immigration reform and the degree to which religion plays a determinative role, however, has yet to be comprehensively studied, despite the fact that many religious leaders have voiced strong positions.

From the Scholars Strategy Network, written by Colleen Casey, University of Texas at Arlington.

Logic dictates that the race listed on an individual’s birth and death certificates would be consistent. Assignment of race at the time of death can be based on a number of factors, however, so the potential for discrepancies exists.

From the Scholars Strategy Network, written by Melissa R. Michelson, Menlo College.

A new generation of research on urban communities and poverty contains rich material, compelling data and fresh angles for journalists on metro beats. Much of this can be localized, and having a strong understanding of recent scholarship can deepen understanding and coverage.