2019/02/07 by Danielle Sarver Coombs, Cheryl Ann Lambert, David Cassilo +1 · 57 citations
Social Sciences · #Countermovement #Criminology #Framing (construction) #Gender studies #History #Law #Mainstream #Media Studies and Communication #Media studies #Political science #Sociology #Sport and Mega-Event Impacts #Sports, Gender, and Society
paper · doi:10.1080/10646175.2019.1567408
published in Howard Journal of Communications 31(4), 317-336 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2019/02/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to protest the national anthem of the United States by taking a knee sparked widespread attention, much of it negative. This research examines the mainstream media coverage of Kaepernick’s protest. Our analysis identified an overarching theme that permeated all coverage: a focus on the method of protest (kneeling) versus the message of the protest (social justice). More specifically, we uncovered six interrelated frames that can be examined and understood through the theoretical lens of the protest paradigm: Kaepernick himself; individual action; virality; power and influence; professional risk; and deflection and distraction. By understanding these frames, we can begin to develop a better understanding of how individual actors—including athletes—can use their platforms to raise awareness and spark discussions around important issues, using their celebrity to amplify voices that otherwise might go unheard, as well as the possible consequences of those actions.