Date of Award
June 2015
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Media Studies
Advisor(s)
Guy J. Golan
Second Advisor
Roy S. Guterman
Keywords
framing, indexing
Subject Categories
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
The current study aims to advance knowledge about indexing and elite debates by examining and comparing coverage of a complex issue in the official government statements and opinion sections of two elite American news organizations. More specifically, this research examines whether or not The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal used any news frames promoted by The White House regarding the former NSA contactor Edward Snowden and his whistleblowing attempts. Results of the textual analysis of The White House Statements and selected opinion pieces indicate that indexing did not occur and a variety of opinion took place. Listed results fall in the theoretical realm of the indexing hypothesis. The study demonstrated that opinion journalism serves an important role in facilitating debates around salient issues and informing the public about those debates.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Sorokina, Elena, "Indexing the White House Statements Regarding Snowden and NSA: A Content Analysis of U.S. Elite Newspapers’ Opinion Pieces" (2015). Dissertations - ALL. 285.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/285
