Josh Grimm
“Katrina in a Thousand Words:
Visual Framing of Narrative and Race”

Abstract

Examining the role of race and story in framing, this paper studies Associated Press wire photographs from the coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Narrative frames conflicted with one another as some photographs showed a return to normalcy while others showed the continual suffering of those trapped in the city. Frames of race were consistent with existing research: Photographs depict blacks as powerless, separated from the other victims.

Communication and Change Symposium
December 2005