Rough Draft of History: A Century of US Social Movements in the News

Rough Draft of History provides a comprehensive account of the media's coverage of social movements in the United States from the twentieth century. It identifies hundreds of movement organizations and documents their treatment in the news, offering an alternative view of US history from below. The book reveals the stories of forgotten groups and highlights the difficulties movements face in the modern media world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

A comprehensive examination of the media's coverage of social movements in the United States reveals a fresh perspective on twentieth-century US social movements. In their work, Edwin Amenta and Neal Caren meticulously identify hundreds of movement organizations, ranging from the Women's Christian Temperance Union to Occupy Wall Street, and document their treatment in the news. By offering an alternative account of US history from below, as it was refracted through journalistic lenses, Amenta and Caren provide a profound insight into the complexities and nuances of these movements.

The media's coverage of iconic organizations in the women's rights, African American civil rights, and environmental movements garnered significant attention. However, it is important to note that lesser-known groups, such as the German-American Alliance, Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies, and the Peace and Freedom Party, also played significant roles in shaping US history. Amenta and Caren delve into the reasons why certain organizations made headlines while others remained overlooked, exploring the factors that influenced their treatment by the media. They uncover forgotten stories, such as the Townsend Plan, a Depression-era organization that played a crucial role in establishing Social Security. Furthermore, they expose the media's harsher treatment of the civil rights movement compared to popular histories, highlighting the challenges movements faced in the modern media landscape.

Rough Draft of History, drawing from digitized newspapers spanning a century and into the present, offers valuable insights for those seeking social and political change and those attempting to understand the complex dynamics of these movements. By delving into the media's portrayal of social movements, Amenta and Caren shed light on the power of storytelling and its impact on public perception and understanding. This work serves as a reminder of the importance of media scrutiny and the need for a more inclusive and accurate representation of historical events.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691232782