Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1991

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Sociology

Major Professor

Thomas C. Hood

Committee Members

Michael Fitzgerald, Donald Clelland, Sherry Cable

Abstract

Deterioration of the atmosphere from stratospheric ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect has become an international issue receiving a growing amount of media attention. Interpretations of the causes and consequences of the issue have been transformed over the years as have the responses by regulatory control agencies and international bodies. Differing interpretations of the implications and appropriate responses have characterized the issue since it was first "discovered." This study examines how these two related environmental issues have been covered by national television evening news. The television news career of these two issues were analyzed in terms of constructionist theory. Two central concerns of constructionist theory as applied to the sociological area of social problems were explored: the progressive definition and development of the issue and major themes expressed by key actors or claims-makers appearing in the news. News coverage of the issue was examined by applying a four stage natural history model proposed by Spector and Kitsuse attempting to identify stages of development through which the issue progressed. Major themes expressed by five claims-makers (scientists, industry spokepersons, politicians, environmentalists, and citizens), were examined in terms of their development over the years. All national television evening news segments covering atmospheric deterioration from 1974 to 1989 were obtained from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive. Each newscast was transcribed and coded for analysis. A separate Word Perfect file was constructed including all references to and interviews with each claims-maker. Television news was used as a case study of the development of the issue. General confirmation was found for the four stage natural history model of social issues. Variation from the model existed as issue development occurred not in distinct stages, but rather in the form of a thesis/antithesis process. Claims-makers entered, became relevant, and exited, at various times depending on developments of the issue. The research agenda of constructionist theory, as it has developed in the area of social problems, offers theoretical coherency to the area of environmental sociology. Theoretical congruity is gained by focusing on the processes which characterize the development of environmental issues and the interaction among key claims-makers who collectively interpret issues within a social context. This theoretical orientation explains how environmental problems gain public recognition and social meaning.

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