Georgie Ann Weatherby

Network news coverage of school shootings

Abstract School shootings have become a subject of intense national debate. The present study is a content analysis and interpretation of television evening newscast coverage of these crimes. The focus is on ABC, CBS, and NBC nightly newscasts. Findings from this research support two propositions: that the most violent school shootings receive the most media coverage, and that the reporting of school shooting cases on network newscasts reflect the “herd mentality” nature of the media.

The secularization of religion and television commercials

Secularization theory had a privileged status within sociology for many decades. Recently, this theory has been challenged on a number of grounds. Specifically, researchers have argued that religion is not on the wane in modern society, but that it is an increasingly central and influential feature of contemporary social life. Hence, there is a debate within the sociology of religion concerning the viability of secularization theory. Findings from the present project, a content analysis of 797 television commercials^ show that religious symbolism is rarely featured by television advertisers. Only 16 out of 797 commercials contained religious or spiritual content. As discussed in the paper, this finding can be interpreted in various ways with regard to the present status of secularization theory.

VIOLENCE, MORALITY, AND TELEVISION COMMERCIALS

It is popularly believed that television violence and declining morality are important causes of crime. Nearly all of the research in this area, however, has centered attention on programs, both news and entertainment. Commercials have generally been neglected. The present study sought to remedy this oversight . Findings from a content analysis of 1,699 commercials show that only a very small percentage of commercials contain violence. The findings also indicate that a low number of commercials exhibit behavior or attitudes that run contrary to conventional moral standards. It is theorized that although advertisers sponsor programs that feature violence or morally controversial themes, they do not wish to closely associate such content with the products or services they seek to sell.It is popularly believed that television violence and declining morality are important causes of crime. Nearly all of the research in this area, however, has centered attention on programs, both news and entertainment. Commercials have generally been neglected. The present study sought to remedy this oversight . Findings from a content analysis of 1,699 commercials show that only a very small percentage of commercials contain violence. The findings also indicate that a low number of commercials exhibit behavior or attitudes that run contrary to conventional moral standards. It is theorized that although advertisers sponsor programs that feature violence or morally controversial themes, they do not wish to closely associate such content with the products or services they seek to sell.

Television Commercial Content: Religion versus Science and Professional Expertise

Abstract This paper describes a content analysis in which 902 television commercials were coded for religious symbolism, science and professional expertise. Evidence obtained from this exploratory study is neither definitive nor exhaustive, but it is suggestive and provocative. Data show that religious symbolism is rarely found in television ads, and commercials using science or professional expertise constituted only nine percent of the sample. Apparently, television advertisers do not view appeals to religion or science as especially helpful for selling products.

Television News Coverage of the Police An Exploratory Study from a Small Town Locale

Perceptions of and about the police have many sources, not the least of which is television. Given the fact that Americans are more likely to encounter television police rather than real police, researchers have examined how the police are depicted on television. For the most part, however, research has focused on entertainment crime and police programs. The present project, an exploratory study of television news stories about the police and policing, offers a supplementary focus. The sample consists of a 5-week content analysis of national, big city, and small town newscasts drawn from a rural cable television system. Findings suggest noteworthy differences between big city and small town television news coverage of the police, albeit limitations of the methodology.