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West Virginia University

Mass media framing of hip-hop artists and culture

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The purpose of the mass news media is to inform individuals and society of important issues and events of the day. This coverage is influenced by the reporter's background, experience, time constraints, and a host of other factors. The way a reporter chooses to cover a particular story gives the story its slant or frame. Examining a cross section of media outlets from around the country gives a more complete picture of how a story is presented to society as a whole. Media coverage of hip-hop culture and the artists associated with it on a national level has been decidedly negative over the past twelve years. From the first rap/hip-hop Grammy win of Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince through the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B. I. G. up to Eminem's nomination for Album of the Year for 2000, hip-hop is framed as "bad boy" music produced mainly by derelicts and criminals. This study examines these frames and analyzes the causes leading to such framing.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MS
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Reed College of Media
Year dc:date.available
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Rutherford, Marc Allen
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Terry Wimmer.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-2134

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Rutherford, Marc Allen. Mass media framing of hip-hop artists and culture. Thesis thesis, 2001. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.1131