ABSTRACT

This study analyzes media coverage of Census Bureau projections showing that the U.S. will become a majority-minority state by mid-century. I argue that the mismatch between the racial/ethnic categories used by the media in their coverage of Census projections, and the official government categories used by the Census, help construct social boundaries around “whiteness” that allows for growth of minority populations to be presented as a challenge for “American” society. I contend that media portrayals of Census projections can influence public perceptions of the racial/ethnic composition of the U.S., thus impacting political attitudes and voting behavior among the U.S. populace.

摘要

本研究分析了人口普查局预测的媒体报道，这些预测显示美国将在本世纪中叶成为一个占多数的少数国家。我认为，媒体在人口普查预测报道中使用的种族/族裔类别与人口普查使用的官方政府类别之间的不匹配有助于围绕“白人”构建社会界限，从而允许呈现少数族裔人口的增长作为对“美国”社会的挑战。我认为媒体对人口普查预测的描述会影响公众对美国种族/民族构成的看法，从而影响美国民众的政治态度和投票行为。