Reporters looking for insight and research around the phenomena of “missing white woman syndrome,” please see comments from Syracuse University professor of communications Carol Liebler of the Newhouse School.
“Missing white woman syndrome” is a term that refers to the practice of news media focusing exclusively on the missing person cases of white women. This is not to say these cases are not newsworthy but rather that similar cases of Black, Latino and Indigenous men and women get overlooked or not given the same sort of intense coverage.
Liebler, who has studied this issue and has commented on it as early as the Jon Benet Ramsey case, says that “missing white woman syndrome” or MWWS, is nothing new and it is time to start delving deeper into the factors that cause it.
“The news media have once again ‘discovered’ the MWWS following criticism of their saturation coverage of Gabby Petito. We should not be satisfied with this self-reflection, as it’s happened before after other similar cases,” said Lielber.
“The causes for MWWS are complex and reflective of dominant ideologies of white supremacy and beauty ideals. It’s not just that Gabby Petito was white: She was young, thin, fit, blond. In other words, she fit societal definitions of beauty,” said Liebler.
“News media are extremely reliant on law enforcement in covering missing people. My research shows that police, not journalists, are the real gatekeepers in determining which missing people media pay attention to,” said Liebler. “Racial and misogynistic biases in police work are then reflected in what missing person cases are communicated to news media. Families are often shut out because news media rely on official sources.”
To schedule an interview with Professor Liebler, please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, director of media relations, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu or 412-496-0551.
There’s a new father-son sportscasting team on the national scene, one with a decidedly Orange background: Ian ’90 and Noah Eagle ’19. Ian finished his second year as the lead announcer for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and has crafted…
Newhouse School and University Professor Bob Thompson was recently featured on “NBC Nightly News” for his long-running lecture series that uses classic television to bridge generational divides and spark important conversation. The segment, produced by NBC’s Brian Cheung ’15—a University…
For the first time ever, Newhouse creative advertising students entered the Sports Clios and Entertainment Clios competitions and won big. Clios are regarded as some of the hardest awards for creative advertising students to win. At the New York City…
Maxwell School alumna Denise Kalette ’68 got her first byline at age 12, under a poem titled “The Poor Taxpayer” that she submitted to her local newspaper. In a few paragraphs of playful prose, she drew attention to an issue…
Fourteen student-athletes will experience Washington, D.C., next week as part of a new Maymester program hosted by the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC). The one-week program, Democracy Playbook: DC Media and Civics Immersion for Student-Athletes, will…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
