In public discourse about race relations, social and political actors inter
act with the press with the goal of shaping the picture of social reality,
accepted by policymakers and citizens. In a departure from research focusin
g on how, elites shape news coverage, this research examines what policymak
ers do-in a strategic sense-with discourse about race in news media. Eviden
ce linking press content or journalists' comments about race with advocacy
by Elites of certain legislative policies would be suggestive of how mass c
ommunication has been "used" in public discussion about race relations. Wit
h this in mind, this research examines 2 important congressional debates ab
out race relations during a critical era in U.S. history.