AI-aided study of local news finds media criticism of police has not risen or become more partisan over last decade

In the last decade, high-profile incidents of police violence against Black citizens in the United States—most notably the 2020 murder of George Floyd—have sparked protests and public debate on misconduct and racial bias in policing. These events received substantial news coverage, becoming highly politicized and leading to a perception that media have become more critical and partisan in their treatment of police.