A call for unity: What Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger got right at the Oscars

As has become the norm, a recent Hollywood award show ignited a partisan divide in reactions and news coverage from throughout the political spectrum. But buried under the hyperpolarized noise was a positive theme that many people missed — a call to find common ground.

Two key award winners at the 92nd Academy Awards on Feb. 9 used their acceptance speeches to encourage unity and camaraderie as a country — an encouraging sentiment to hear from socially influential figures. Yet, this theme was largely ignored in media coverage, while stories...