Communicating controversy in the mass media
type: CreativeWork
description: This doctoral submission grew out of a series of long form documentaries that I wrote, produced, and directed between 1993 and the present. The films, which were broadcast on US television's PBS network, all deal with scientific, medical, or environmental issues that developed into prominent national and international controversies. DVDs and scripts of the seven programs are provided along with a detailed overview. The submission is organized as three projects and an overview. 1. Project One (discussed in chapters 3-7) consists of three documentaries: the first about a novel therapy for autism1; the second dealing with the alleged health effects of power line electromagnetic fields2; and the third focused on the silicone breast implant controversy3. 2. Project Two (discussed in chapters 8-11) consists of programs on nuclear energy,4 Gulf War Syndrome,5 and genetically modified foods6. 3. Project Three (discussed in chapters 12-14) features a two-hour special investigation of global warming.7 4. The Overview, Communicating Controversy in the Mass Media not only provides an overarching analysis of the portfolio of films and the attendant theoretical issues, but also serves to summarize the works themselves. In the Project sections of the written overview (chapters 3-14), the analysis is interwoven with extracts from the various documentaries. This portfolio and overview tells the evolving story of a body of work at the intersection of documentary, investigative journalism and science. It reveals the journey of one producer who started out with an interest in unpacking complex controversies, but became increasingly fascinated with the psychological and political dimensions of these narratives. Whether a particular controversial belief holds up under scrutiny is undoubtedly important. But there are other fascinating questions: why do people adopt such beliefs in the first place; why do individuals cling to their beliefs in the face of contrary scientific evidence; and w…
abstract: This doctoral submission grew out of a series of long form documentaries that I wrote, produced, and directed between 1993 and the present. The films, which were broadcast on US television's PBS network, all deal with scientific, medical, or environmental issues that developed into prominent national and international controversies. DVDs and scripts of the seven programs are provided along with a detailed overview. The submission is organized as three projects and an overview. 1. Project One (discussed in chapters 3-7) consists of three documentaries: the first about a novel therapy for autism1; the second dealing with the alleged health effects of power line electromagnetic fields2; and the third focused on the silicone breast implant controversy3. 2. Project Two (discussed in chapters 8-11) consists of programs on nuclear energy,4 Gulf War Syndrome,5 and genetically modified foods6. 3. Project Three (discussed in chapters 12-14) features a two-hour special investigation of global warming.7 4. The Overview, Communicating Controversy in the Mass Media not only provides an overarching analysis of the portfolio of films and the attendant theoretical issues, but also serves to summarize the works themselves. In the Project sections of the written overview (chapters 3-14), the analysis is interwoven with extracts from the various documentaries. This portfolio and overview tells the evolving story of a body of work at the intersection of documentary, investigative journalism and science. It reveals the journey of one producer who started out with an interest in unpacking complex controversies, but became increasingly fascinated with the psychological and political dimensions of these narratives. Whether a particular controversial belief holds up under scrutiny is undoubtedly important. But there are other fascinating questions: why do people adopt such beliefs in the first place; why do individuals cling to their beliefs in the face of contrary scientific evidence; and w…
author: Palfreman, Jon
language: eng
keywords: mass media, environmental and health controversies, documentary film, investigative journalism, television journalism
date published: 2005
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:38:53Z
provider: University of South Wales
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of South Wales