Whether they helped bring down Jose Mourinho, marched against their club owner or pushed back against plans to commercialize football, fans have a long history of using their passion for the game as a tool to fight for change. These fan protest stories remind us that fan activism isn’t a passing fad and remains a powerful force in the fight for progressive change.
When reporting on protesters, it’s important to avoid dehumanizing them or delegitimizing the cause they’re advocating for. Instead, reporters should seek to humanize them by writing about personal characteristics, such as their personality, hobbies and family. This can help readers connect with the people involved in the protest and may also lead to more positive attitudes toward the person or cause.
Similarly, journalists should seek to legitimize the protest by providing an accurate depiction of its origins and goals. This can be done by describing the historical background of the issue and stating its relevance to a particular demographic or group. It’s also important for reporters to note that the people who participate in protests are often not the same as the people who oppose them and that there are many different motivations, tactics and strategies involved.
To further examine the effects of these tactics on story credibility, our research team conducted a series of experiments in which participants saw news stories about protests involving underrepresented groups that either humanized or criminalized the teenager whose death sparked the protest. We found that stories that humanized the teenager led Democrats and those with Democrat-leaning views to perceive the story as more credible. However, they had the opposite effect on Republicans and those with Republican-leaning views who viewed the story as less credible.