Trends in media coverage of the issues of the '80s and '90s

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Authors
Reinitz, Kortney
Advisor
McDonald, Becky A.
Issue Date
2000
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
Department of Journalism
Other Identifiers
Abstract

This thesis has replicated a content analysis study conducted by G. Ray Funkhouser in the 1960s. This study concurs with the Funkhouser assertion that some prominent issues in the news do not necessarily merit the attention from the media at the times they receive it. The findings in this study appear to also indicate a "sampling bias" in the media, whereby the amount of news coverage deviates in a systematic way from the actual flow of events. Additionally, this study indicates a strong relationship between the amount of media attention an issue receives and whether or not that issue was noted as the most important problem by respondents to the Gallup Poll.

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