In an effort to provide journalists with the best practices to avoid perpetuating racial stereotypes of African-Americans, the Foundation to Promote Open Society and the Open Society Institute's Campaign for Black Male Achievement awarded a $50,000 grant to SMPA professors Robert Entman and Kimberly Gross along with Andrew Rojecki and Carole Bell.

The grant will fund research and a major public event next year that examines racial appeals and the role of race in the 2012 presidential election with a particular focus on how the news media covered race.

"My colleagues and I are exploring the subtle appeals to some voters' prejudices that have replaced crude, obviously racist messages in politicians' toolkits. Through experiments and close analysis of media images, we'll figure out how to sensitize journalists and citizens to coded racial communications--which we hope will discourage politicians from using such tactics," said Entman.

More details on the research and event are forthcoming.