Theses/Dissertations - Journalism, Public Relations and New Media
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Browsing Theses/Dissertations - Journalism, Public Relations and New Media by Author "Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism."
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Item A case study of two Cherokee newspapers and their fight against censorship.(2006-07-22T23:48:42Z) Evans, Desiree Y.; Stone, Sara J.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.This study attempts to illuminate an injustice to the Cherokee Nation through denial of First Amendment rights in newspapers and communities. Through case studies and in-depth interviews it examines the avenues by which other Native American newspapers can gain independence and publish free from censorship. The study focuses on The Cherokee Phoenix and Indian Advocate and The Cherokee Observer. Studying The Cherokee Phoenix and Indian Advocate allowed for the examination of the Cherokee tribe’s official newspaper before and after the Independent Press Act of 2000, and how the landmark legislation has changed the newspaper and its relationship to the tribal government. The establishment of The Cherokee Observer shows why some members of the Cherokee tribe felt that an alternative newspaper was necessary before and after the legislation was passed, and as they continue to feel the need to publish even five years after the Cherokee press was freed.Item Creating a foundation for media literacy education : a content analysis of higher education syllabi.(2012-08-08) Earp, Amanda G.; Moody-Ramirez, Mia.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.Using a Constructivist theoretical learning approach, this study examines syllabi from higher education media-related departments to develop a uniform foundation for media literacy courses by finding common objectives and creating an ideal syllabus. Findings indicate that although most objectives in the syllabi appeared throughout the literature, future courses should place more emphasis on objectives such as “effects” and “economics.” The results also show a variation between the types of objectives included in the sample syllabi, most notably in the “other” theme. Finally, the study indicates that a total of 16 objectives should be included in media literacy courses.Item Employment success of university journalism graduates: a survey comparing classroom practices and departmental requirements with graduates' job placement and salary rates.(2007-02-07T19:01:56Z) Zastoupil, Kristin L.; Stone, Sara J.; Bishop, Mike (Michael).; Vitanza, Dianna M.; Sturgill, Amanda Colson, 1968-; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.This study focuses on what current journalism programs are requiring from their undergraduate students before graduation. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research by collecting data through an online survey of journalism faculty at four-year universities offering a degree in journalism and individual interviews of journalism researchers and faculty. The aim was to use educational philosophies and teaching methodologies to classify current programs as traditional, contemporary, or a combination of the two and to determine if one type of program has a greater impact on its graduates' success. While overall findings indicate professors and institutions tend to be contemporary, qualitative research indicates that programs tend to be more mixed and include a hybrid of contemporary and traditional classes.Item Get rich or die tryin’ : a semiotic approach to the construct of wealth in rap music.(2011-09-14) Davis, Kristine Ann.; Stone, Sara J.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.For the past 30 years, rap music has made its way into the mainstream of America, taking an increasingly prominent place in popular culture, particularly for youth, its main consumers. This thesis looks at wealth through the lens of semiotics, an important component of critical/cultural theory, using a hermeneutical analysis of 11 rap songs, spanning the last decade of rap music to find signification and representation of wealth in the rap song lyrics. The research finds three important themes of wealth - relationship between wealth and the opposite sex, wealth that garners respect from other people, and wealth as a signifier for "living the good life" - and five signifiers of wealth – money, cars, attire, liquor, and bling.Item The influence of media use on religious individuals' attitude toward and knowledge of science.(2011-05-12T15:23:24Z) Collins, Billy W.; Owens, Bradley E.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.Research indicates that mass media depictions of morally controversial scientific applications and new technologies have increased in frequency during the past decades. Therefore, researchers have become increasingly interested in how science is both viewed and understood by the public. One of the publics of primary interest to researchers is the highly religious, who may approach science and its applications via a unique perceptual filter determined by their religious commitment. Additionally, the mass media have been shown to moderate opinions about science. The present study makes use of nationally representative survey data to discuss the relationship that exists among media use, religiosity, and attitudes toward and knowledge of science variables. Data collected from two independent samples will also help pave the way for future trend studies of this phenomenon.Item Informative humor : The Daily Show's emergence as a credible news source.(2010-06-23T12:25:02Z) Shanks, Chad.; Sturgill, Amanda Colson, 1968-; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.By all accounts, America's dependence on traditional news media as a vital part of the democratic process is waning. With new media and outlets fighting for audiences, traditional broadcast and print media are suffering an existential crisis, forced to adapt or become obsolete. In addition, the public's trust in the media is plummeting. However, in this unsteady environment, unexpected forms of traditional media are emerging as credible sources, such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. When compared with other news media transcripts, The Daily Show was rated as equally credible to other broadcast news outlets when participants did not know the sources. When sources were known, The Daily Show was not rated as less credible, inferring that no preconceived bias against the show's credibility exists. In addition, political affiliation, age and gender were not significant in determining a person's perceived credibility of the satirical news leader.Item Language direction trends in news items naming Baylor University published in the New York Times and selected Texas newspapers (1974-2005).(2006-07-31T19:10:59Z) White, Gregory Alexander.; Bishop, Mike (Michael).; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.This thesis compared language direction in 116 news items from local and distant media populations over a thirty-year period. Population members included the Dallas Morning News, Houston Post, and Houston Chronicle, as well as the New York Times. Its purpose was to find if trends showed distant media such as the Times portrayed Baylor University differently than local media. Findings from news item paragraphs in controversial and non-controversial story groups revealed distant and local media used mainly neutral language. Compared against local media samples, the distant population did not portray Baylor differently in a significant way, according to statistical applications. Analysis also disclosed the New York Times published stories for a national audience, while selected Texas newspapers wrote for local readers.Item No women in the press box : a case study to compare the experience of women in print sports journalism from the 1980s and 2000s.(2011-05-12T15:46:37Z) Quackenbush, Chelsea Erin.; Ferdon, Douglas Robert, 1945-; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.This case study examines women sports writers in the 1980s and 2000s. The purpose of the study was to describe the perceptions of women sports writers’ in relationship to their professional and personal experiences in sports journalism, and how the field has changed in terms of gender relations, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination. Participants agreed that men and women are equal in terms of job duties, and they do not experience discrimination and harassment in the field. There is still progress to be made in terms of the number of women in sports journalism.Item A quantitative analysis of theater criticism in four American newspapers.(2008-06-09T17:50:06Z) Orand, Amber Werley.; Darden, Bob, 1954-; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.The researcher systematically sampled 144 issues of four major American newspapers from reference points over the last three decades and conducted a quantitative analysis of theater reviews to determine whether the amount of theater criticism has changed as the newspaper industry has declined. Instead of an across-the-board change over time, however, the trends were observed to vary by newspaper, while the overall quantity of theater criticism in the observed newspapers has actually increased. Yet, other aspects of the results, such as a decline in staff critics and an increase in reliance upon freelancers, indicate that theater criticism is becoming less valued in American newspaper journalism. More research is needed to suss out further quantitative and qualitative trends in journalistic theater criticism. Meanwhile, the Internet and Web logs offer viable avenues for theater criticism if it loses ground in journalism.Item Race, faith and fear: general press and black press coverage of Arabs, Muslims and the stigma of terrorism in the United States.(2006-07-22T23:11:20Z) Stone, Robert P.; Stone, Sara J.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.The global impact of the events of September 11, 2001, provoked an interest in American media coverage of terrorism. With African-Americans making up more than 12 percent of the country’s population and more than 40 percent of the country’s Muslim population, an overview of black press coverage of race relations is juxtaposed with mainstream (white-owned) press coverage of black Americans. An account of the general press' mostly negative coverage of Arab-Americans and Muslims as potential terrorists follows. Clashing viewpoints of the black press and the general press are best explained by the idea that news is culture, reflecting the historical experiences and psychological and sociological makeup of white and black Americans. This content analysis of six newspapers from Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles found important distinctions in results before and after 9/11 but little statistical significance, primarily because of low or "0" scores amongst the minority publications.Item Social networking sites and intent to vote in the 2008 presidential election.(2009-04-01T17:07:42Z) Toller, Amanda C.; Moody-Ramirez, Mia.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.This study examines the potential link between communication on social networking sites and the users’ intent to vote in the 2008 presidential election. By surveying a group of undergraduate students, most of whom are users, if not frequent users of social networking sites, the study attempts to find out what students feel is influencing whether or not they vote in this year’s presidential election.Item The use of new media in professional sport image repair theory : a case study of Michael Vick, Brett Favre, and Reggie Bush.(2012-08-08) Mason, Hannah Noelle.; Moody-Ramirez, Mia.; Journalism.; Baylor University. Dept. of Journalism.Broadening the application of Benoit’s image repair theory, this case study compares and contrasts crisis management strategies of three NFL athletes, Michael Vick, Brett Favre, and Reggie Bush, to determine which methods were used and who employed them better. After cross-comparing those results and evaluating them against a purposive sampling of Sports Illustrated and People Magazine articles for transference of themes and usage, the researcher concluded that the application of a unified image repair strategy plan across all of the new media outlets used by each professional athlete is the best way for future athletes to utilize image repair strategies when a crisis occurs. Findings indicate social media allow athletes to publish information quickly and efficiently without a gatekeeper; however, they must still follow traditional image repair strategies to succeed. Exploring the newest communication medium, social media, added a fresh dimension to previous image repair study findings.