Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1996. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-151).

The purpose of this Q study was to learn broadcast news professors' attitudes on the current state of local television news. The researcher also wished to uncover if professors with primarily teaching experience have different attitudes on local television news than professors with primarily professional broadcast experience.Nineteen professors in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan sorted Q statements regarding the quality of local television news. An analysis of their Q sorts found the participants fell into three categories: the Ultra-Critics, the Moderate-Critics, and the Minimal-Critics.The Ultra-Critics were very critical of local television news and had virtually nothing positive to say about the topic. The Moderate-Critics had some positive thoughts about local television news, but were still very critical. The Minimal-Critics were critical of local television news, but still had many positive thoughts on the industry.The researcher also found that professors with primarily professional broadcast experience were much more critical of the industry than professors with primarily teaching experience. / Department of Journalism

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 212-225).

Thesis--Madrid. / Publicaciones del Departamento de Sociologia de la Universidad de Madrid. Estudios y monografías. Includes bibliographical references.

The discussion that follows seeks to critically examine the manner in which a South African financial publication, the Financial Mail (FM) magazine, reported on the country’s Finance Minister over two time periods. The specific time periods are April – June 1996, and February – April 2007. This will be done to assess whether the style of reporting changed over time. In order to accurately analyse the coverage, a content analysis of a number of articles published by the FM over two periods will be conducted. The first period to be examined correlates with Manuel’s first three months in office (April to June 1996) as finance minister, a role he took over after the resignation of then Finance Minister Chris Liebenberg, and the subsequent cabinet re-shuffle. This time period also coincides with the adoption of the internationally acclaimed South African constitution which pre-supposes, amongst others, freedom of the press. Manuel’s first three months in office furthermore coincided with the African National Congress’ (ANC) first period in government under the stewardship of President Nelson Mandela, having taken over power in 1994. The second time period selected is during Manuel’s 11th year in office (February to April 2007). The second time period coincides with a different economic and social situation, with the country’s economy having strengthened to the extent of recording a budget surplus. Relevant media theories and principles will be studied to evaluate which theories, if any, reflect the Financial Mail’s style of writing, language use and choice of stories to cover regarding Minister Manuel. An analysis of the first time period will include a look at the socio-economic conditions that prevailed at the respective times, against the background of the political situation during both periods. Dominant economic policies implemented and decisions taken during both periods relevant to the particular office Manuel held will be critically examined, since FM is a financial publication mostly covering financial and economic news. Research conducted will be qualitative in nature, and include an in-depth content analysis of articles.

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. / Department of Journalism