Conservative activist and podcast host Charlie Kirk’s speaking engagements on college campuses have generated some loaded headlines recently.
Sacramento Bee: “Another far-right speaker is coming to UC Davis. How should the community respond?”
Chicago Tribune: “UIC Students Will Protest Far-Right Speakers Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens Thursday.”
Nebraska Examiner: “Provocateur Charlie Kirk’s visit to Lincoln brings protesters, alleged vandalism.”
The titles and implication are right there for readers to see: Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens aren’t merely dubbed conservatives or podcast hosts. Instead, they’re placed into the “far-right” category. And the third headline is also obvious in its bias: Kirk isn’t named as the founder and president of Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization. No, instead he’s a “provocateur” while actual vandalism is “alleged vandalism.”
Let’s compare the headlines Kirk and Owens received to the benign headlines written for liberal speakers on campus:
The Diamondback (University of Maryland): “UMD progressive student group hosts Our Revolution President Nina Turner.”
CBS News: “Kamala Harris to deliver keynote address during Coast Guard commencement.”
