Why has the media stopped covering the BLM protests? The BLM movement is ongoing but not getting the coverage from news outlets it deserves. The news organizations only cover events when they are fresh, shocking and scandalous. 

Following George Floyd’s death, many news outlets wrote about the BLM movement and protests occurring around the country. News coverage of the protests was at an all-time high. But as the summer ended, coverage of the protests ceased. The question is: why? Do people not care about racial injustice? What else is being covered instead? 

The sad truth is that if protests do not turn into riots or involve violence, news outlets are less likely to cover them. The media looks for eye-catching and shocking stories to draw in an audience and keep readers engaged. June marked the peak of coverage because demonstrations were new and more aggressive, such as those in downtown Chicago. Big cities gained a larger spotlight due to a large number of protesters and unprecedented events occurring. 

Chicago police got into violent clashes with protestors; city-wide curfews were implemented and agitated protesters. Other major cities such as Denver and New York saw the same pattern. The Chicago Tribune changed its focus to dangerous clashes rather than covering what motivated the protests. Other news organizations, such as the New York Times, also adjusted their stories.

When BLM stopped trending, news outlets stopped reporting on protests. The movement lost its spotlight, as the media shifted their attention towards how white supremacists were reacting to the campaigns. The term “All Lives Matter” was coined by people who missed the point of the BLM movement and refused to acknowledge that racism is still alive and well in this country.  From this lens, news outlets reported on violent altercations and shock-inducing events. The same pattern of sensational reporting continues. 

The way the media covers important social movements needs to change. News outlets focus too much on the altercations that occur during these protests rather than the reason they started in the first place. BLM articles should focus on conversations about racial injustice instead of property damage and looting. As they lose media coverage, it is becoming harder for protesters to organize marches and influence legislative change. Racial injustice is still here, and news outlets need to start re-evaluating how they represent it.