Journalists are Designers

In reading chapter 2 of Visual Communication Design it makes a point that the elements such as words and images as well as their composition have an effect on the way an audience perceives their meaning or the meaning that is meant to be conveyed. The text gives an example of the word home, in which the word alone can have multiple meanings based on the experience of the reader but it depends. Moreover, culture has an impact on the way these things are conveyed. The book so far has only conveyed that this is what designers do, but doesn't specify who constitutes as a designer. I like to think that journalists are designers, especially those who write for a digital platforms. Today's political climate is one that is draining. Especially when it comes to the subject matter of race. Even without reading the entire article the title grabs the reader's attention as well as the picture. When the article is on the matter of people of color ( especially Black people of color) the words used to describe what the article is about is often negative and is in disfavor of Black people even when they are the ones that are suffering. It's a heavy contrast to White people who are often surrounded by words of positivity and praise despite them being in the wrong. Take for example the death of Michael Brown, a tragic death, that people are still continuing to fight for justice for. Brown's killing was senseless and he was the victim, however, media portrayed him as a thug going as far to say that he raped about money, sex, and drugs. Something like raping is a pastime enjoyed by many teenage boys...even if they aren't particularly good at it. And yet it's negative association with thugs and the intimidating pictures of him that ultimately painted Brown as a thug himself, making his death almost justified to the audience . And yet, Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse is painted as a hero, because of his long standing desire to be a cop and pictures of him smiling. The power of choosing words and images to convey a message is more than story telling, for people of color it can mean the different between justice and injustice.