The media dependence model: an analysis of the performance and structure of U.S. and global news

This dissertation is an attempt to make sense out of the many questions surrounding news media performance and its inadequacies. It does this by first synthesizing two critical models of news analysis and applying their respective strengths toward the other’s weaknesses. The synthesis is based on the propaganda (Herman & Chomsky, 1988, 2002, 2008) and indexing models (Bennett, 1990; Bennett, Lawrence, & Livingston, 2007). While the scope of the synthesis is broad and substantial, and contributes much in terms of understanding news content, it still leaves important questions that this dissertation endeavors to address. It answers how and why social movements garner news media attention and sympathy, while others do not. This work does not leave domestic matters unaddressed or under-theorized. It does so by distinguishing between foreign and domestic news reporting and modeling domestic coverage. It theorizes ownership of the news media in a manner appropriate for the age of globalization, with findings based on a substantial and thorough content analysis of important events in Fallujah, where the most substantial military operation was conducted during the occupation of Iraq. Lastly, in spite of containing “bird’s eye” conclusions and critical analysis on news media performance and its respective tendencies, this dissertation will also address the conditions and instances in which exceptions are most likely to arise. The name I have given to the model of news analysis presented in this dissertation is the media dependence model (MDM). I chose this name to emphasize the chief failing of the U.S. news media system: its reliance on corporate funding and ownership and the unfortunate result of this structure leading to a lack of independence from Washington (the White House and key Congressional leaders) and Wall Street (Madison Avenue and the public relations industry) positioning.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communications

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Kennis, Andrew C.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nerone, John C.
• Althaus, Scott L.
• Stole, Inger L.
• Boyle, Francis A.
• Bennett, W. Lance
• Chomsky, Noam

• propaganda model
• Indexing
• news media performance
• media analysis
• critical analysis
• political economy
• political communication
• Acteal
• Racak
• Fallujah
• Iraq
• Cable News Network (CNN)
• CNN en Español
• Vieques
• Ecuador
• spiking
• immigration
• journalism
• Chomsky
• Bennett
• Herman

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Andrew Kennis

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/29687

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/29687