Browsing by Subject "Mass media"
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Item A content analysis of Green-Band and Red-Band trailers advertising R-rated feature films released in the United States in 2008(2012-05) Lowry, Kent; Bradley, Samuel D.; Cummins, Robert G.; Farnall, OlanContent analyses of material in motion pictures considered inappropriate for young audiences have been conducted since the Payne Fund Studies in the 1930s, and content analyses of such material in film trailers have been conducted for the past decade. However, no social science research has been published on the two-tiered system of film trailers. The present study analyzes the mature content of green-band trailers (approved for all audiences) and red-band trailers (approved for restricted audiences aged 17 and older) advertising the same feature films, those released with both categories of trailers in 2008. Violent content was coded most frequently, with sexual content the second-most-common category among green-band trailers and potentially offensive language the second-most-common category coded in red-band trailers. Implications for potential young viewers are addressed, as is a broader research agenda utilizing a similar population of trailers.Item A content analysis of news stories submitted to CNN World Report by former Soviet contributors during the periods 1990-91 and 1993-94(Texas Tech University, 1999-05) Ward, Christa J.Since it began in October 1987, CNN World Report has emphasized the importance of giving viewers a perspective from around the world. Flournoy (1992) quoted Stuart Loory, CNN World Report creator as saying, "It is the philosophy of the CNN World Report that we be as inclusive as possible, rather than exclusive. That means we try to create a true marketplace of viewpoints and perspectives on the news around the world" (p.25). Other than time constraints, three minutes in the beginning, there are no rules regarding the types of reports contributors can submit to CNN World Report. The subject matter is left up the journalist. Flournoy (1992) wrote, "The World Report editor worries less about the story being one-sided than about whether there are enough sides being aired to give the audience the widest possible perspective" (p.25).Item “Altamente teatral” : subject, nation, and media in the works of Virgilio Piñera(2010-05) Cabrera Fonte, Pilar; Salgado, César Augusto; Lindstrom, Naomi; Richmond-Garza, Elizabeth M.; Rossman, Charles; Wilkinson, Lynn; Dominguez-Ruvalcaba, HectorThis study analyzes Virgilio Piñera’s concept of performance in relation to his representation of mass media products and technologies. The central argument is that Piñera’s notion of theatrical representation connects fiction with politics in subversive ways, challenging assumptions of naturalness at different levels, from that of the gendered self, to the family and the nation. To support this argument, the study focuses on Piñera’s representation of a variety of mass media genres as these inspire everyday life performances, mainly in Cuba but also in Argentina. While fictional models and sentimental narratives from the mass media most often convey oppressive conceptions of gender, family, and nation, the author’s representation of the media’s pervasive influence questions and denaturalizes those conceptions. Piñera stresses the disruptive potential of individual performance against the repetitive character of both the mass media industry and the social reenactments of its sentimental myths. His references to mass culture thus destabilize structures of power, including stereotypes of both sexuality and gender. The analysis shows that Piñera’s fictions exhibit important characteristics of queer aesthetics. The study comprises a time span of almost three decades, from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, and focuses on a selection of Piñera’s criticism, drama, poetry, and narrative. Within those texts, special attention is given to references to photography, radio programs, romance novels, movies, and popular music. The organization of Piñera’s texts in this study answers to both thematic and chronological considerations. Chapter 1 outlines the study’s objectives and methodology, also providing a background on critical studies about Piñera. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with plays and short-stories written before the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Chapter 2 examines texts that represent both family and nation in relation to a variety of mass media genres, from Cuban “radionovelas” to Hollywood gangster films. Chapter 3 focuses on two narratives, written in Buenos Aires, that address posing and self-representation in relation to issues of sexuality, masculinity, and power. Chapter 4 deals with a selection of poems written, for the most part, after 1959. In these poems, the literary use of photography stresses theatrical self-representation, often in direct resistance to revolutionary reformulations of masculinity in the figure of the “New Man.”Item American political documentaries: Structure, agency, and communication of meaning(2012-05) Borua, Shankar; Stoker, Kevin; Chambers, Todd; Sparks, Johnny V.; Langford, Catherine L.This dissertation advances inquiry in the area of documentary filmmaking as a cultural act of meaning-creation and recognizes the process of meaning-creation enabled by an American documentarian through the production of a political documentary. The project identifies deliberate choices that a filmmaker makes in a pre-meditated strategy to use resources of sounds and moving pictures to convey meanings in the American public sphere and highlight contentious issues that tend to polarize public opinion. Using structuration theory and textual analysis, this study examines the concepts of structure, agency, and reflexivity that enable communication of meaning through the film text as well as transformation of the documentary structure. The documentary structure enables agency of a filmmaker and the production of a documentary (the filmmaker interacting with the documentary structure) further reproduces and transforms the structure. The structure provides agency to a filmmaker to engage in a discourse on a politically charged issue in American public space and highlight his/her interpretation of the American condition and experience. Using "found material" and documentary conventions, a filmmaker constructs an argument to communicate meaning and provides "evidence" in the narrative to authenticate it. By examining American political documentaries through the prism of structuration theory, this dissertation offers interpretive insight into the deliberate process of meaning-creation actively enabled by the structure of documentary film and highlights the ongoing transformation of the documentary structure.Item An analysis of freshman and sophomore level journalism/communication programs in four-year academic institutions.(Texas Tech University, 1974-08) Dawdy, Nanci JeanNot availableItem An examination of the Texas print media's ability to report objectively on cotton following the dissemination of an agricultural media resource(Texas Tech University, 2004-12) Vinyard, AshleeThe purpose of this study was to examine the coverage of cotton from 534 Texas newspapers. This study replicated research methods utilized by Beesley (2003). Using the Hayakawa-Lowry method, the levels of bias in the media's coverage of cotton were evaluated following the development and distribution of the CottonLink media resource tool in August of 2004. The objectives for this study were to: (1) identify all articles written about cotton in Texas newspapers for six selected months according to circulation size and geographic region; (2) classify cotton articles into categories and concept areas; (3) categorize the sentences in hard news and feature articles using the Hayakawa-Lowry News Bias categories; (4) determine bias of judgment statements in the identified articles; and (5) determine the level of bias in Texas newspapers after the distribution of the CottonLink CD for the print media and compare it to the findings of Beesley (2003). There was a total of 1,356 articles from 275 newspapers collected by the Texas Press Clipping Service during the six-month period of study. An overall increase was found in the number of articles, newspapers and circulation size when compared to the previous study by Beesley while a significant decrease was found in the number of judgment sentences during this study. Recommendations include an increase in agricultural literacy among joumalists in addition to future research.Item An initial investigation of emotional intelligence and level of bias in news stories among Texas agricultural reporters(Texas Tech University, 2004-05) Casabonne, KamiNot availableItem Analysis of agricultural literacy information sources: Associated Press wire service(Texas Tech University, 1997-08) Hess, Audra ShayneNot availableItem Areas of food safety concerning Lubbock, Texas, residents and their preferred information sources(Texas Tech University, 2003-05) Williams, Kamy R.The number of illnesses and deaths annually caused by foodborne illness may be an indicator that there is a need for food safety information and education. The need for food safety information and education may range from the most economically challenged families to those families who rely on others to prepare their meals. In addition, this information must be transmitted via a reliable and trustworthy media source.Item Chopin in the mass media: Advertising, signification, and meaning in select television commericals (2004-2011)(2012-12) Nguyen, Hang; Cimarusti, Thomas M.; Smith, Christopher; Martens, PeterThis study will survey the varying receptions of Chopin’s music through its use in the mass media in the United States between 2004 and 2011. I will draw upon select American television commercials, semiotics, and reception history to illuminate the diverse and evolving contemporary images of Chopin and his music. This topic advocates the importance of music in mass media studies as a research area not often highly recognized as an academic subject, particularly in the musicological world. As there is limited research available covering classical music in the mass media, we are unable to fully recognize the importance of semiotic advertisement approaches. Examining the semiotics in ads will allow an understanding of our constantly changing popular culture. Due to the limitations of commercials predominantly available within a seven year time span and eighteen samples categorized into their respective tropes (“Aesthetics,” “Tragedy,” and “Nostalgia”), a glimpse of the reception of Chopin’s music in a contemporary America will be presented. This study will argue that in the last seven years (2004-2011), contemporary American advertising practices have imposed upon the presumed audience’s associations with Chopin’s music, conforming to or contradicting them for purposes of strengthening the marketing message.Item Cognitive and affective responses by West Texas Hispanics/Latinos to agricultural news: a comparison of four English and Spanish presentation media(Texas Tech University, 2003-12) Davis, Chad S.As media channels began to develop and evolve in the 20^ century, scholars began inquiry into cognitive and affective associations of mass media. Observations directly associated media with attitudes and behavior. Two cases were the 1938 Orson Welles broadcast of War of the Worlds and the 1940s World War II propaganda films. Media effects research resulted from such cases. Agriculturists often seek ways to convey the importance of agriculture. Most professionals in agricultural education develop and research the effects of agricultural education programming with youth and adult populations. Agricultural communicators often seek descriptive information pertaining to perceptions of agriculture and its diverse issue base. This dissertation, which uses the agenda-setting theory, is the first of its kind to compare mass media channels containing agricultural content. Furthermore, this dissertation is the first to focus on the Hispanic/Latino population and the English and Spanish language as it pertains to outcomes associated with mass media channels containing agricultural content. This study used an experimental posttest-only control-group design to compare four English and Spanish presentation media: newspaper print, electronic text, video news release, and radio news release. Participants were bilingual Hispanic/Latino attendees of the Texas Tech Raiders Rojos Back to School Fiesta (n=144). The participants were randomly assigned to one of eight treatment groups and a control group. The dependent measure included aided recall unaided recall, and issue salience. Results indicate significant differences in aided recall between English newspaper print and English electronic text, Spanish newspaper print, and Spanish electronic text. A significant difference also occurred between English video news release and Spanish electronic text. Results indicated a strong correlation between aided and unaided recall. No significant differences existed between agricultural issue salience and media channel. Authors suggest replication in Hispanic populations and other ethnic groups.Item Coverage of the religious right in five major newspapers(Texas Tech University, 1996-08) Dalkowitz, John P.People of the conservative political inclination often assert that the media have a strong liberal bias. L. Brent Bozell and Brent H. Baker, editors of the book And That's the Way It Isn't: A Reference Guide to Media Bias (1990), among others of the conservative poHtical persuasion, point to somewhat compelling anecdotal evidence of a liberal media bias. A significant liberal media bias, however, has yet to be empirically proven. In fact, W. Lance Bennett, author of News: The Politics of Illusion (1988), asserts that although the media are biased in certain aspects, they are not biased in terms of ideology. Members of what is commonly referred to as the religious right, such as Focus on the Family, the Concerned Women of America, the Christian Coalition and the American Family Association, feel particularly alienated from the media. Although no study has been found concerning media's treatment of the religious right, research concerning bias in the coverage of presidential elections coupled with the existing research regarding newspaper coverage of religion in general might lead one to believe that if there is a bias against the religious right, it is not significant. This study, consequently, is a content analysis of five major newspapers' coverage of the religious right.Item European broadcast rules: learning from the U.S. experience(Texas Tech University, 1996-12) Renfro, Lynne ChuppThe United States has struggled with its laws concerning the media industry. The growth in technology and changing ideologies behind regulating the media has also added to inconsistencies in the law. As the political climate changes in Europe, and it enters the global economy, Jhe European Community will be faced with media problems similar to those encountered by the United States. Examining the historical development of the mass media industry in the U.S. may provide a roadmap for the newly developing media industry in the EC. Using the history of antitrust laws and federal regulations in the U.S., and following their evolution and the philosophies which molded them, could suggest the logical course for the EC to use in developing its media industry. The historical perspective of the U.S. media industry may better equip the EC with knowledge of what problems to expect and perhaps how to prevent many of the regulation and antitrust problems previously encountered in the U.S. The format of this paper is to set out the changes in the antitrust and regulation laws in the U.S. and discuss the new EC directives currently underway for their media industry. The reasoning used in the U.S. for certain changes in media law may provide possible insight into some of the rationale used to create the new EC directives in their mass meaia industry.Item Freedom of the press: public or corporate?(Texas Tech University, 1976-05) Brown, Kathleen McMurtreyNot availableItem General interest magazine language preference among Hispanics(Texas Tech University, 2004-08) Galvez, Robert AnthonyAn experiment was conducted to determine if there was a relationship between the way language is presented in a magazine article and Hispanics' perceptions of the article. Two hundred and seventeen respondents in west Texas read articles in Spanish, English and a mix of English with Spanish. Subjects were given a questionnaire to identify their affinity toward the articles, their ability to understand the articles, and their perceptions of the news value of the articles. The ARSMA-II scale was used to evaluate respondent's level of acculturation. Data analysis revealed Hispanics preferred the articles written in English and the mix of English and Spanish to the articles written in Spanish alone. No relationship was found between level of acculturation and preference for language presentation style.Item Knowledge and opinion gaps on local and national issues(Texas Tech University, 1984-12) Roe, Sally RuthTwo of the earliest findings in mass communications literature are that some portions of the public tend to be chronically uninformed and that, in general, the greater the level of education, the greater the knowledge of various topics" (Gaziano, 1983, p. 447). This research project will examine these early findings to determine how much influence level of education has over the knowledge of various topics and over a person's willingness to address an opinion on that topic. Other factors will also be studied to determine whether they might exert more influence over knowledge and/or expression of opinions than education does. These factors are a person's level of interest in the various topics, and the amount of available mass media publicity on the topic.Item Liberating articles or oppressive reproduction?: a rhetorical analysis of popular media discourse concerning anorexia(Texas Tech University, 1999-05) Lager, E. GraceThere has been much discussion in the last decade about anorexia nervosa. Typically, the focus in popular media coverage of anorexia has been on the character profile of a "typical" anorectic; on possible "triggers" of the disorder; and on medical, including psychological, treatment and effects of the disease. Still, there is something missing from these articles. For instance, the typical magazine article about anorexia describes the anorectic, her body size and weight, how and when she developed the disorder, her rituals while "actively" suffering, and the treatment she went through. In all of this analysis, there have been several theories developed about why women and girls starve themselves, featuring such variables as rebellion, selfishness, perfectionist tendencies, feelings of inadequacy and pressure from society. While all of these can be supported by a plethora of case studies, there is one thing all popular magazine stories about anorexia have in common: they consistently neglect to address the role anorexia plays in maintaining the patriarchal marginalization of women and girls as objects of masculine desire. This thesis, however, seeks to address what has been ignored by these articles and to pursue the reason(s) these issues are not addressed.Item Mass media influence on first-time mothers(Texas Tech University, 1980-08) Moffatt, Jean FlippinObjectives of this paper were to measure the amount of use first-time mothers make of the mass media for information on pregnancy and childrearing, and the corresponding impact of media use on the mother-infant dyad. In preparation for the study, extensive research was done on the capabilities of an infant to communicate before birth and during the six months following birth. The mother-infant dyad was also studied to determine the importance of the mother's recognizing her infant's individuality, his abilities, and his desire to communicate. The study was carried out in two ways. First, one mother-infant dyad in which the mother prepared herself for her role through media use was observed over a six-month period. Second, first-time mothers of all backgrounds from a small community of 7,000 people were mailed a questionnaire which asked personal history questions, the extent to which they used the media for pregnancy and childrearing information, and an evaluation of their own dyad. Results showed books as the main media source of information, followed by booklets and pamphlets, with magazines third. Television, newspapers, and radio were least used. Age, education, and income showed a high relationship to book and booklet use, but a negative one to radio, television and newspaper use. Greater media use, more education, and a higher maternal age at the birth of the child resulted in an earlier recognition of the child as an individual and in greater significance being attached to his communication attempts. Apart from the mass media, medical personnel were found to be the most-used, source of information. Books, however, were more used than such non-media sources as family members, friends, and training in school. The accessibility of books, their extensive coverage of the subject, and their helpful indexing were cited as major reasons for widespread use. Lack of programming and articles were the reasons for less use of television, radio and magazines. The study suggests that mothers who use the mass media for information on their children are better prepared for what to expect from their babies and are better able to communicate with them and to understand their communication efforts. It also, provides evidence supporting greater efforts by all of the media to present helpful pregnancy and childrearing information, particularly that which encourages mothers to respond positively to an infant's attempts to communicate- Such a response fosters development of a healthy self-image and an acceptance of the world around him.Item Media choices and the knowledge gap among Hispanics(Texas Tech University, 2004-05) Barnhart, Amy MThe purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between media use and Hispanics' knowledge of political and public affairs. Additionally, it examined the relationships between knowledge and socioeconomic status, generational status, and political affairs interest, as well the relationships between some of these variables. The study was conducted using a random sample of Hispanics in a southwestern county. There were 400 completed questionnaires. The high socioeconomic status group had significantly higher knowledge scores than the low socioeconomic status group. The gaps in knowledge indicated that the knowledge gap hypothesis holds true for the Hispanic population. Significant gaps in knowledge also occurred between generational status groups with the first and second generation averaging higher knowledge means than the third generation. The first generation may have scored higher than the third generation due to a desire to acculturate - they may be consciously absorbing more information in an effort to learn about their new home, the United States. Of both Spanish- and English-language media, only light and heavy use of English-language newspapers produced significant gaps in knowledge. The depth of coverage that newspapers provide may contribute to a knowledge gap between user levels; heavy users generally spend more time with the media.Item Media coverage versus law enforcement and the social construction of the serial killer in American society(Texas Tech University, 2002-05) Bones, Gary L.The following research takes a look at serial killers and how they are socially constructed by the mass media versus law enforcement. Serial killers commit the most heinous of crimes over and over, and I view them as sources of information for research on their motivations and socialization. The information I have read on serial killers comes from books and newspapers dealing specifically with them and will be mentioned throughout the analysis, for some sociological implications can be seen from them and used for this study. This information dealt with serial killers from a maudy psychological approach. I feel the need to approach the serial killer using a more sociological analysis, for a sociological viewpoint is necessary so that research on serial killers may incorporate the influence of the wider social environment. All the sciences should be combined to profile the serial killer from every direction, from the biological to the sociological. In turn, this should provide valuable information regarding the characteristics behind serial killers and other repeat offenders. For this analysis I begin by discussing news reports given to society about serial killers. Although society is a general term, I refer to the groups that receives information on a daily basis from institutions that portray reality. There is no argument that serial killers receive an abundant amount of attention when their crimes are being committed, but the period of 1983-1985 was a point in history where this attention was at an all time high. The importance of this period will be discussed later in the chapter dealing with methodology. For now I will suggest that news coverage of serial killers during this period shaped the perception of the American public. Behind this coverage were two institutions we are very familiar with: law enforcement and the mass media.