This article explores the textual properties of arguably one of the most influential textual domains in contemporary society; that of mass-media discourse. Within this genre, it examines English-language hard news media reports from the United States, Great Britain and Australia focussing on the concepts of objectivity within this domain. Drawing…

Most members of the American public will never read this article. Instead, they will obtain much of their information about education from the news media. Yet little academic research has examined the type or quality of education research and expertise they will find there. Through the lens of gatekeeping theory, this mixed-methods study aims to…

This study explores the use and presentation of information and research on education by the news media. Using content analysis, this study compares four types of think tanks--contract research, academic, advocacy, and mixed academic and advocacy--and shows how the news media represented each one as a source of research, facts, and figures on…

Investigates the ideological presumption concerning media analysis (the claim that what really matters is the underlying sociopolitical relations of control and power). Explicates and critically assesses arguments provided by the writings of John Fiske and Michel Foucault, concluding that there is no good reason to believe that the news media are…

Reports the findings of a survey conducted to determine the level of understanding of the news business by the general public in a midwestern community. Concludes that the respondents knew more about television news than about newspapers. (FL)

Examines the structure of international news flow and its determinants. Reveals inequality of international news flow between core and periphery, with Western industrialized countries at the center. Finds that the news flow network is structured into eight geographic-linguistic groups. Indicates flow is influenced by a country's economic…

Explores three legal implications of news councils: (1) the effect of the councils on the frequency of libel suits, (2) the validity of the waiver complainants must sign, and (3) the potential impact of news council decisions in determining standards of press performance. (FL)

Concludes that in Michigan, reporters focused on covering the governor and that state representatives received more coverage than did senators. (FL)

Examines the reliability of the preseason rankings of NCAA Division I-A football and basketball teams prepared by the two wire services as predictors of performance. Concludes that the polls seldom correlate with end-of-season results. (FL)

Concludes that the notion that the media provides a newly elected president with a "period of grace" is oversimplified. (FL)

Analyzes publications produced by local businesses. Concludes that these publications are neither newspapers nor magazines and that affluent readers are their greatest asset. (FL)

Shows that complexity of news stories influences the effect of deadlines on news judgments. (Author/FL)

Reports that, overall, Minnesota newspapers and complainants approve of the Minnesota Press Council; that there is a strong correlation between newspapers' approval of the council and their opinions about its effectiveness; and that there is a lesser correlation between newspapers' approval of the council and their familiarity with it. (GT)

Shows that two of three videotex services had substantially more stories than their companion newspapers, and that all three tended to get stories earlier than the papers. (FL)

Concludes that thanks to Nigeria's 1979 Constitution and to its independent courts, the press in that country has escaped serious mauling in spite of political and human frailties. (FL)