Whether it’s a beloved band breaking up, their sports team being relegated to the second division or the death of a character in their favorite show, fans have a long history of protesting cancellations they feel are unjust. Fan activism isn’t just a passing fad either: it’s a tool for social change that’s often used by activist groups and traditional charities alike.

Black fandom was instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement, keeping up momentum for the movement by using their passion to fight for change and bringing issues such as segregated seating policies to the attention of public officials. Black fans maintained their protests through a combination of tactics that included black newspapers that published boycott information, pickets that were placed on public property such as stadiums or bus stops, and direct action such as boycotting a game in response to racist seating policies.

When reporting on a protest story, journalists should focus on personal details that humanize the person or people who are being profiled to help readers connect with them. This can include writing about a person’s personality, hobbies and family to give a fuller picture of their life. We also found that stories that humanized the teenager whose death spurred the protest led to more positive attitudes toward the teenager,5 the protest and the protesters. However, this effect was stronger among participants who were Democrats and those with Democrat-leaning views. Stories that dehumanized the teenager had a negative impact on credibility perceptions regardless of political beliefs.