Selektionskriterien in der Berichterstattung von Fernsehen und Zeitungen: Eine vergleichende Fallstudie anhand von Demonstrationen in Washington D.C. in den Jahren 1982 und 1991

In: Neue soziale Bewegungen: Forschungsjournal, Band 9, Heft 1, S. 26-45

Abstract

Analyzes national coverage of officially approved protest demonstrations held in Washington, DC, in 1982 & 1991 (N = 1,209 & 1,856, respectively) to determine coverage criteria. News sources considered are the New York Times, the Washington Post, the 3 major TV networks, & major weekly news magazines. More than 50% of the protests had fewer than 25 participants. Most demonstrations were not covered at all. In general, demonstrations were selected for coverage if they were large, involved a popular issue, &/or were violent or potentially violent. Protests had a greater chance of being covered when they involved a theme already on the news agenda (eg, the Gulf War in 1991). The structure of media selection was relatively stable 1982-1991, although the issues considered newsworthy changed. Results are discussed in relation to the commercialization of mass media in both the US & the Federal Republic of Germany. 4 Tables, 1 Graph, 54 References. Adapted from the source document.