Question

In the past, journalists would routinely report the race of an alleged criminal when he or she was black, but not when he or she was white. this media practice was likely to confirm in some readers minds the tendency of african americans to commit criminal behavior. this phenomenon illustrates

Answer 1

this phenomenon illustrates: an illusory correlation.

Whenever the media this kind of thing, most of its viewers will Correlate Black people with criminal behaviors.
It creates an illusion in people mind that most black people more prone to criminal behavior than white people.