The PD Exchange

Current Issues in Research and Teaching on Race: A High Density Session

Part of BEA 2026
Saturday 18 April 2026·5:15 pm

This extended high density session highlights the breadth of recent research and teaching about race and media, with extensions into gender and class. Panelists will present brief overviews of their original research or teaching techniques, and then open to further discussion with the audience. Topics include identity-focused news sites, news coverage of Muslim women activists, the ambiguous Latina in Barbie, arguments about Native American mascots, Black identity in The Blackening, explainer podcasts in teaching, African American and African Immigrant perspectives on casting in Black historical films, and race and class in Abbott Elementary. Moderator: Brad Gorham, Syracuse University Panelists: Christopher S. Josey, University of Missouri, Tanner Smith, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & Julius Matthew Riles, University of Missouri; Breaking the model: Examining the content of Asian American identity focused news sites Meriem Mechehoud, Independent Scholar; Framing Muslim Women Activists Abroad: Audience Perceptions and the Power of Stereotypes Arthur D. Soto-Vásquez, University of Nevada, Las Vegas & Raisa F. Alvarado, California State University, San Bernardino; The Ambiguous Latina in Barbie C. Richard King, Columbia College, Chicago; Seances and Spiritualists: Undead Indian Mascots and Rhetorics of Resuscitation Derek Blackwell, Prairie View A & M University & Gretta Blackwell, Prairie View A & M University; “You Got Some ‘Splaining To Do”? Exploring the Pedagogical Potential of Explainers in Media Studies Classrooms Adelaja Oriade, Denison University; Contesting Authenticity: African American and African Immigrant Audience Perspectives on Casting in Black Historical Films Betsy Pike, Ball State University & Robert Alan Brookey, Ball State University; Class is Not Dismissed: Abbott Elementary and Approaches to Inequality Andrew C. Billings, University of Alabama & Yifan Wu, University of Alabama; Fairness or Fear?: Media Coverage of Trans, Intersex, and Sex-Tested Female Athletes Respondent: Rebecca Ann Lind, University of Illinois at Chicago

Get notified about Assessment events

Free weekly digest of new PD opportunities. Unsubscribe any time.