Can the Media Ever Be Neutral? Dr Michelle Keller on Media Bias, Racial Narratives, and Public Trust

Can the Media Ever Be Neutral? Dr Michelle Keller on Media Bias, Racial Narratives, and Public Trust

In this episode of Narrative Practices: Discourse in Action, Dr. Michelle L. Keller joins host Tony Errichetti, PhD, for a conversation about media bias, racialized reporting, newsroom accountability, and the future of trustworthy journalism. Dr. Keller, a communication scholar and former journalist, discusses her research into The Kansas City Star's historic public apology for decades of racist coverage and what it reveals about the narratives that shape American life. Through examples ranging from crime reporting to immigration, drug epidemics, and natural disasters, she breaks down how language, framing, and newsroom norms influence public perception and reinforce structural inequality. The conversation explores: • How major newspapers codified racial bias through language and the AP Stylebook • Why The Kansas City Star issued a front-page apology — and what changed afterward • Double standards in U.S. media: “looting” vs. “finding supplies,” “crack epidemic” vs. “opioid crisis” • How DEI efforts are reframed through backlash narratives and “reverse racism” discourse • How journalists can rebuild trust through representation, listening, and community-centered reporting • Why a free and diverse press is essential for democracy, empathy, and public accountability Dr. Keller offers a rare inside look at institutional reckoning in journalism — and what must happen next for media to serve communities with accuracy, integrity, and compassion. Connect with Dr. Michelle Keller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelkeller/ ---- The views and opinions expressed by the interviewer and interviewee are their own and do not reflect the official views, policy, or position of Narrative Mindworks.

Can We Still Trust Public Health? Dr Tista Ghosh on Storytelling, Misinformation, & Pandemic Lessons

In this episode of Narrative Practices: Discourse in Action, Dr. Tista Ghosh joins Tony Errichetti, PhD, to explore how public health messaging and misinformation shaped our pandemic experience, and what storytelling can do to rebuild trust. Dr. Ghosh, an epidemiologist, physician, and author of Before the Next Crisis, shares stories from healthcare and frontline workers whose experiences reveal how politics, communication failures, and “pandemic amnesia” left the public divided. The conversation explores: • Why evolving science was mistaken for dishonesty • How politics shaped health messaging • New models to depoliticize public health • The rise of narrative public health and digital storytelling • How experts can earn back trust through transparency Follow Dr. Ghosh on Instagram @HealthHackerMD https://www.instagram.com/healthhacker_md Learn more about her book Before the Next Crisis: https://tistaghoshauthor.com/ --------------------------------------- About Narrative Practices: Discourse in Action: A podcast about how narrative medicine and storytelling shape empathy, ethics, and change in healthcare. Narrative Practices: Discourse in Action brings together clinicians, educators, artists, and social justice practitioners to explore how stories influence systems of care, medical education, and cultural change. Through conversations rooted in narrative medicine, medical humanities, and health communication, the series investigates how discourse shapes empathy, policy, and clinical practice. Each episode examines the narratives that authorize what can be said, the language that builds—or breaks—trust, and the rhetoric that persuades or silences. By reflecting on these dimensions, guests and listeners alike are invited to consider how storytelling can foster integrity, connection, and compassion in healthcare and beyond. ---- The views and opinions expressed by the interviewer and interviewee are their own and do not reflect the official views, policy, or position of Narrative Mindworks.