| Title |
Hartman, Taylor MPC_2025 |
| Alternative Title |
Whose City Is It? Reframing Portland Through Digital Protest Narratives |
| Creator |
Hartman, Taylor |
| Collection Name |
Master of Professional Communication |
| Description |
This study examines how digital platforms like Reddit and Twitter reshaped Portland's urban identity during and after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests by comparing narratives from police, media, and grassroots voices. It finds that online discourse can challenge institutional narratives, turning physical protest spaces into symbolic sites of resistance and highlighting the need for inclusive, participatory approaches to city storytelling. |
| Abstract |
This study explores how urban narratives are constructed, contested, and transformed in the digital age, using Portland, Oregon as a case study during and after the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Drawing on communication theories such as symbolic interactionism, framing theory, and the narrative paradigm, the research examines how digital platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and mainstream news outlets shape public perceptions of urban identity. Through qualitative analysis of 180 police press releases, 28 Reddit threads, and 32 news media reports, the study investigates how key stakeholders-including law enforcement, media, and grassroots voices-framed protest events and physical spaces like Chapman Square and the Justice Center.; ; The findings reveal significant narrative divergence: police and conservative media emphasized law and order, portraying protest zones as sites of chaos, while Reddit users and progressive media often depicted them as spaces of resistance, community, and solidarity. These conflicting frames redefined urban elements such as paths, nodes, and landmarks, turning physical locations into symbolic battlegrounds for civic identity. The study also highlights the emotional and algorithmic dynamics of digital platforms, where user-generated content can rival institutional narratives in shaping public memory and policy response.; ; Ultimately, the project underscores the power of digital discourse in reframing urban identity, advocating for participatory branding that aligns with lived experiences to build resilient, inclusive city narratives. |
| Subject |
Communication--Research; Social Media |
| Digital Publisher |
Digitized by Special Collections & University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University. |
| Date |
2025 |
| Medium |
Thesis |
| Type |
Text |
| Access Extent |
25 page pdf |
| Conversion Specifications |
Adobe Acrobat |
| Language |
eng |
| Rights |
The author has granted Weber State University Archives a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce his or her thesis, in whole or in part, in electronic or paper form and to make it available to the general public at no charge. The author retains all other rights. For further information:  |
| Source |
University Archives Electronic Records: Master of Professional Communication. Stewart Library, Weber State University |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s6rbrdmk |
| Setname |
wsu_smt |
| ID |
148304 |
| Reference URL |
https://digital.weber.edu/ark:/87278/s6rbrdmk |
