Sue Robinson will discuss her new book, Networked News, Racial Divides: How Power & Privilege Shape Public Discourse in Progressive Communities

Against conventional wisdom, pervasive black-white disparities pair with vitriolic public conversation in politically progressive communities throughout America. Networked News, Racial Divides examines obstacles to public dialogues about racial inequality and opportunities for better discourse in mid-sized, liberal cities -- especially in Madison, WI -- the major focus of the work. Media expert Sue Robinson will read excerpts from this book and explore how privilege shapes discourse and how identity politics can interfere with deliberation. Key to this talk will be a discussion with participants about ways in which we can move forward in building trust in our diverse communities.

Sue Robinson holds the Helen Franklin Firstbrook Professor of Journalism endowed research chair at the School of Journalism & Mass Communication in the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she researches and teaches about digital technologies like social media, journalism studies, reporting skills, multimedia, and information authority.