This study examined public relations in the context of sports to better understand the relationship management methods used during an issue to provide conclusions for how public relations can be applied to develop, improve, and maintain relationships between a team and its community, particularly during an issue.Using a content analysis, this study reviewed relationship management literature and applied strategies of relationship management to stages of Turner's (1974) social drama. The content analysis of 454 news articles revealed that although relationship management strategies were identifiable, they were not significantly utilized by franchises and supporters. The lack of relationship management techniques could be used to explain why the franchise-community relationship was unstable throughout the social drama and why the social dramas lasted longer than the sports franchises anticipated. It also supports public relations researchers who argue for the use of public relations management techniques during conflict in order to build and maintain relationships between an organization and their publics. / Department of Journalism

While the cannon of objectivity has recently been called into question as the means for evaluating news merit, objectivity continues to harbor public expectation of the news media, especially during times of conflict. Results of past and current objectivity studies of conflict reporting, however, were shown to produce inconsistent and conflicting interpretations of whether the news media is presenting objective coverage of conflicts.To determine objectivity of news coverage, this content analysis examined objectivity differences between three newspapers--the Chicago Tribune, the Indianapolis Star, and the Anderson Herald Bulletin--and how they collectively presented front-page conflict and mainstream straight news stories.The study evaluated the newspapers' collective presentation of the September 11 h terrorist attack for a two-week period from September 12 through September 26, 2001. Presentation of the conflict was compared to a proportionate sample of mainstream straight news stories randomly selected from the months of January through December of 2001.Because the literature review indicated researchers most commonly evaluate news objectivity according to the presence of balance, attribution, or gatekeeping bias, the study assessed differences in objectivity level between conflict and straight news based upon the integration of all three objectivity variables The study's findings suggested that reporting of mainstream straight news was more objective than reporting of the September 11 terrorist attack conflict in the combined three newspapers. Reporting of the terrorist attack was found to be less balanced than reporting of straight news stories, as evidenced by a disproportionate amount of quotations afforded in support of United States war efforts. In addition, conflict stories were found to contain a significantly higher use of negative attributes-non-essential adjectives, inferences, collateral language and non-speech quotes--than straight news stories. Differences between page placement and revelation of theme were found to have no effect on objectivity differences. / Department of Journalism

The purposes of this research study were to determine the extent registered dietitians were involved in the Indianapolis local television news reports; to analyze the content of nutrition-related information covered by Indianapolis local television news reports for their length of time, subject, context of nutrition-related information; and to identify the reporter, and any expert sources used. A content analysis was the chosen research method for this research proposal.A total of 33 nutrition-related segments were identified and analyzed from a two week sample of Indianapolis local television news programs. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 11.0. Registered dietitians were featured as expert opinions in six of the thirty-three news segments. The inclusion of either a registered dietitian or another trained health professional increased the rating of the news segments on the Nutrition Education Continuum. The two most common nutrition-related subjects covered by Indianapolis local television were disease prevention and cooking demonstrations. Results of this study provide modest support for the inclusion of registered dietitians in the local media when reporting nutrition-related information. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

This study analyzed news coverage from the Indianapolis Star and The New York Times about the blockbuster drug Prozac® from the day it was approved on Dec. 29, 1987, until Dec. 31, 2006, to gain insights about whether the tone and prominence of news stories about Prozac changed over the duration of its 20 year lifecycle.A content analysis was used to evaluate whether stories were more favorable in tone during the first phase of Prozac's lifecycle, whether the tone of those stories became more negative as time passed, and, if it did, during which phase of Prozac's lifecycle that change in tone occurred.The findings from this study can assist public relations practitioners - particularly those who work in the pharmaceutical industry - in developing proactive and strategic media relations plans for consumer products such as prescription drugs and establishing more appropriate expectations and projected metrics. / Department of Journalism

Media framing research has examined how news stories are fashioned, and how audiences are affected by the shaping of news stories. Measuring for media frames, though, has varied in its definitions and measurement instruments.The present study applied attribution theory to the study of media framing in order to establish a reliable way to measure for frames of responsibility in The New York Times' coverage of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A content analysis was conducted to determine what type of attributions the newspaper's sources used in the coverage.The findings suggest that The New York Times' coverage overwhelmingly blamed Iraq for the war and maintained a dominant frame of responsibility. Furthermore, support was found for the assertion that attribution theory applied to media framing research would create a meta-theory approach, thereby creating a consistent way to measure and identify frames of responsibility.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306 / Department of Journalism

This study is an in-depth investigation of game and excellence theory's linkage within the discipline of public relations during the period of market entry.The literature review defines and analyzes both game and excellence theory and the value of each within public relations. The literature also examines the impact of new businesses within U.S. economy and the importance of strategic decision making during the period of market entry. Decisions made during this time period, of which public relations professionals are often involved, can forecast the success or failure of a new business. The researcher argued that excellence theory's domination over the mindshare of public relations professionals has overshadowed other theories (such as game theory) which can be of value during the time of market entry.In order to quantify any educated opinions held by the researcher, a content analysis was conducted. The researcher identified specific game and excellence theory keywords to be examined and coded. The keywords were derived from a random sample of 384 public relations-based articles from 1997 to 2007 in Entrepreneur's online magazine, the leading magazine for entrepreneurs for over thirty years. The years of 1997 through 2007 were chosen due to a growth in new business births that have occurred over this time frame.The results of the content analysis showed that there were significantly more game theory keywords than excellence theory keywords referenced in Entrepreneur's online magazine in the aforementioned articles and timeframe. From this evidence, the researcher deducted that while excellence theory is still the paradigm for public relations professionals, game theory is being fused within public relations in some areas of the industry, specifically within new market entry strategy. / Department of Journalism

This dissertation discusses various underlying conceptual metaphors used to describe the issue of Taiwan’s independence in the PRC media in light of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The conceptual metaphors underlying linguistic expressions that are used to depict the independence issue in Chinese for a total number of nineteen concepts are examined. It is also argued that the conceptual bases for some chengyu, fixed expressions in Chinese, can be explained within Conceptual Metaphor Theory, but others cannot since some of the conceptual mappings constructed are context specific. The secondary metaphors found in some chengyu are based on the original association of one domain with another in the allusion or historical story. In short, this study provides empirical evidence for Conceptual Metaphor Theory in that the use of metaphor is extremely prevalent in at least one genre of Chinese political writing. It also examines Chinese chengyu from a cognitive point of view. / Department of English

This thesis is an examination of representations of Muslim women in the American print media. I focus on one particular publication, The New York Times within a time frame surrounding the events of September 11, 2001. Articles were selected from this publication that fell within the time period of September 11, 2000 to September 11, 2002, in selecting articles, I chose those based on their inclusion of any discussion that clearly identified those discussed as Muslim women, through the use of the words "Muslim" or "Islamic" in their descriptions. The case study was carried out by reading through each daily edition of The New York Times in order to identify any articles that fell within my criteria. I also used an online database containing abstracts of the publication to verify that no article of relevance was overlooked. I then devised 5 categories within which to analyze the representations of Muslim women that were found within these articles, "Veil", "Biographical", "Women's Issues", "Politics" and "Muslims in the West". The main goal of this thesis is to determine how Muslim women are represented within this particular publication and to analyze whether the events of September 11, 2001 had any effect on how Muslim women were portrayed in The New York Times articles.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study presents an observation, analysis and effect indication of the media portrayal of the antiretroviral drug nevirapine in Western Cape daily newspapers. The research is aimed at ascertaining the quality and consequences of science reporting on an essential, yet too often politically controversial, AIDS treatment within the South African context. This work ultimately offers suggestions as to how the media could play a more beneficial role for the South African public when reporting on nevirapine and HIV/AIDS treatment in general.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim and function of this paper is to provide a balanced account of how the media, international and South African, have dealt with the issue of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A selection of interviews, presentations, articles, transcripts and published reports forms the background of this interpretation, and offers insight into the history of the technology, the major role players, the legislation required and implemented, the question of environmental accountability, and the power of the media's influence. It addresses aspects of the causal relationship between the media and public understanding, and the subsequent power of the consumer as manifested by the perception of risk. The central theme of genetic engineering conjures up a variety of meanings and applications, and the plethora of available information is evaluated in an attempt to develop informed understanding for reporters covering the many dimensions of this development within the arena of science and technology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie verhandeling is om 'n ewewigtige oorsig te verstrek van hoe die media - Suid-Afrikaans sowel as internasionaal - die kwessie van geneties gemodifiseerde organismes gehanteer het. 'n Seleksie onderhoude, aanbiedinge, artikels, transkripsies, en gepubliseerde verslae vorm die basis van hierdie interpretasie, en verskaf 'n insig in die geskiedenis van die tegnologie, die belangrike rolspelers, nodige en géimplementeerde wetgewing, die vraag van omgewingstoerekenbaarheid, en die mag van die media se invloed. Dit spreek aspekte aan van die kousale verwantskap tussen die media en begrip deur die algemene publiek, en die daaropvolgende mag van die verbruiker, soos dit duidelik word in hulle insig in en begrip van die risiko-faktor. Die sentrale tema van genetiese modifisering bring te voorskyn 'n verskeidenheid betekenisse en aanwendings; en 'n oorsig van die massa beskikbare inligting word hier aangebied in 'n poging om aan verslaggewers ingeligte begrip aan te bied van die veelsydige omvang van die ontwikkeling van genetiese modifisering in die gebied van wetenskap en tegnologie.