News Research Journal

The public suicide of Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer posed a difficult problem for newspaper editors who had to decide whether to use graphic photos of the event, a dilemma of taste versus news value. This study examined how newspapers used the several photos available. Newspapers in New York and North Carolina tended to use photos less graphically than did Pennsylvania papers. Respondents said they used standards that considered taste and ethics in deciding against using some of the photos. Editor's note: photo examples appear alter this article.

The use of photographs is examined in 91 Pennsylvania dailies' news coverage of the Jan. 22, 1987, suicide of Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer. Difference in photo use is compared for large vs. small papers, those in competitive markets, those in markets where television covered the event graphically and those at distances from the victim's hometown. Editor's note: photo examples appear before this article.

Issues of the New York Post from before and after its purchase by Rupert Murdoch were compared with each other and with corresponding samples of the competing Daily News. More visuals, “sensational” headlines, “sensational” stories and “local/regional” stories were found in “after” issues of the Post; the Daily News was not found to have changed much Findings were generally similar to those obtained in a study of Murdoch's San Antonio daily and its competitor.

The media's agenda-setting power is not uniform on all issues. Past research has shown where people experience issues directly, media coverage is perceived as less influential. This study shows newspaper coverage was more strongly related to community than neighborhood issues, although the causal relationship between issue concerns and coverage varied depending on the issue. Direct experience was an important factor in translating neighborhood issues into community-wide ones.

Most legal authorities say responsibility for defamation extends to “every person who directly or indirectly publishes or assists in the publication of an actionable defamatory statement.” This article considers how much involvement in an alleged libel is required for a newspaper employee to be responsible for a plaintiff's injury, and finds that some active participation in the communication has been necessary.

Survey data indicate the typical religion journalist is a female, Protestant, active in her religion, with a college degree in journalism and 10 years experience. Most fill about one page each week and also write religion stories for the general news sections, but only those at larger papers are likely to have a title reflecting responsbility for religion news or are likely to be able to devote full time to the beat.

Based on previous research studies of issue coverage by newspapers, this article sets forth a model of stages in the development of public issue coverage. The model describes five different stages in issue development and the nature of journalistic coverage at each stage. A content analysis pilot test on two issues generally supports the model, and the authors suggest how the model might be used as a guide by media gatekeepers.

This case study investigates how objective reporting in the 1983 Denver mayoral election may have been influenced by 1) reporters' creativity and advocacy freedom versus 2) ideological and economic constraints of the newspaper. The topic was investigated through content analysis and interviews with news professionals involved in campaign coverage.