Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1994

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Sociology

Major Professor

Sherry Cable, Suzanne Kurth

Committee Members

E. Grady Bogue

Abstract

This study examines changes in the frequency of articles reporting incidents of student activism by the news periodical media, and describes characteristics of the placement and presentation of the articles, to provide answers to the following research objectives: 1) To determine whether the frequency of media coverage of American student activism changed since the 1960s; 2) To determine whether the location or placement of articles and their size suggest variation in the importance assigned to student activism incidents; and 3) To determine whether congruence existed between the level of coverage of student activism and the incidence of student activism. The functionalist perspective, which views the media as impartial "selectors" of news was used to develop the research design. The research sample (n=319) was drawn of Newsweek, Time, and U. S. News & World Report articles published between 1961-1987, and content analyzed.

The data demonstrate that the frequency of reporting of student activism incidents increased from 1961 through 1970, dropped sharply in 1970, then showed a slight increase in the mid 1980s. The location or placement and presentation of articles is shown to relate to the issue of protest and the level of violence associated with the protests. This selection and placement of articles regarding student protest suggest variation in the importance assigned to student activism incidents. The frequency of reporting student activism is compared to a chronology of political, social, and educational events and activism incidents from the 1960s through 1987. The data suggest that reporting frequency during the 1980s was not congruent with the occurrence of activism.

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