Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Communication, Professional

Date of Award

5-2012

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Robert A. Dunn

Committee Members

Andrew F. Herrmann, Stephen W. Marshall

Abstract

The researcher sought to understand the differences in framing used by alternative media outlets and traditional or mainstream media outlets. A sampling of articles about the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was used from alternative and traditional media publications to conduct this study. These articles were analyzed by a software program to determine themes and concepts within both data sets. The analysis revealed traditional media was less varied in themes than was alternative media, with the latter clearly showing an effort to be. Traditional media was found to provide routine coverage of commemorative services and very little critical analysis. Further highlighting the differences in the 2 media paradigms was the use of profanity in alternative media, which was discovered by using the "find" function available with word processing software.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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