#OSCARSSOWHITE MOVEMENT: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NEWS MEDIA IN THE CHANGING DIVERSITY OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS?

The social media movement #OscarsSoWhite put a spotlight on racial diversity in the film industry after nominations for the 2016 Academy Awards were announced with no people of color included. This paper uses the agenda setting theory as a theoretical lens to critique the media coverage of the movement and how prominent entertainment publications framed content about racial diversity. It will take research from media studies and implement a qualitative textual analysis of materials from news articles published by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Root and media releases by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to determine what issues became salient and how coverage was framed in a three-year period. This paper will also discuss the overall climate of racial diversity in the film industry, social mediáђةs role in social change, and how the media make issues salient through agenda setting and agenda building