2.20.23
Here, review the summary of findings from both the survey research and the media analysis of our project Teachers in the News. For findings in their entirety, a variety of interactive charts, and more, please visit the main project site at teachersinthenews.org.
- Teachers and parents believe that media coverage affects teachers.
- Newspapers rarely discussed teachers in depth or included teachers’ voices.
- Newspapers covered nonacademic factors that affect learning more than any other topic.
- National newspapers started covering evaluation less and quoting teachers more around 2015.
- Local and national newspapers most often portrayed teachers engaged in the work of teaching. National newspapers more often portrayed teachers being evaluated than local newspapers did.
- Depictions of teachers being evaluated in national newspapers began declining after 2015, while depictions of professional development and compensation began increasing.
- In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, depictions of teachers changed more in national newspapers than in local newspapers.
- From 2009 to 2020, newspapers rarely depicted teacher shortages, lack of classroom resources, or low diversity in the profession.
- Depictions of teachers involved in illegal activity were rare but spiked modestly in certain years.
- Teachers believe it is important for the news media to cover student poverty, lack of classroom resources, and teacher shortages.
