The Glint of Gold: Press Coverage of the Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1999 The glint of gold: Press coverage of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb Jon S Arakaki University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Arakaki, Jon S, "The glint of gold: Press coverage of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb" (1999). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1021. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/g36x-dn08 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Arakaki Bachelor of Arts University of Redlands 1986 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Hank Greenspun Department of Communication Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number; 13 96405 Copyright 1999 by Arakaki, Jon S . All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1396405 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeh Road Ann Arhor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Jon S. Arakaki 1999 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. T Thesis Approval A. The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas Till y , fi , 1923- The Thesis prepared by Jon S. Arakaki Entitled The Glint of Gold: Analyzing Press Coverage of the Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College Examitii Committee Memi Exami Commi Graduate College Faculty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT The Glint of Gold: Press Coverage of the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb by Jon S. Arakaki Dr. Barbara Cloud, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Communication University of Nevada, Las Vegas Press coverage of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, through articles published in the LondonTimes andNew York Times from November 30, 1922 to January 31, 1923, will be analyzed. A contract between the excavators and the LondonTimes provided the newspaper with exclusive reports and information, while theNew York Times and others initially relied mainly on eye-witness accounts and second hand gossip. This study compares and contrasts different accounts of the same discovery in terms of the themes, tone, and language o f relevant articles in the two newspapers. Additionally, the study includes a survey of the relationship between science and journalism during the years prior to the discovery, and offers insights that are applicable to this relationship in the 1990s as well as the 1920s. m Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................Hi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................... v CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................1 Purpose............................................................................................................................... 7 Review of Literature .......................................................................................................... 9 Methodology.....................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER n SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND THE PROGRESSIVE ERA................. 16 Science Journalism After World War ...........................................................................1 20 The New York Times and Carr Van Anda.................................................................... 22 The London Times and the Exclusive Contract.............................................................25 CHAPTER m ARTICLE REVIEW....................................................................................31 London Times as Public Relations Agent for Carter/Carnarvon...................................34 Western Imperialism........................................................................................................ 38 Slow News Days ............................................................................................................. 41 Politics/Controversy........................................................................................................43 Science/Artifacts...............................................................................................................45 CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS..................................................................................................52 Question #...................................................................................................................... l 53 Question #2...................................................................................................................... 58 Question #3...................................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION............................................................................................. 66 Limitations and Implications for Future Research......................................................... 69 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................... 70 VITA........................................................................................................................................74 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACÏCNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the support and contributions of committee chair Dr. Barbara Cloud, whose advice and recommendations guided this thesis since its inception. Also, I would like to thank committee members Dr. Gage Chapel, Dr. Richard Jensen, and Dr. David Dickens, for their assistance in completing this project. Finally, I want to thank Stacy, Misha, and Simba, for their patience and support during the period in which this thesis was researched and written. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping fi-om the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly fi-om the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold— everywhere the glint of gold. —Howard Carter, The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun The structure, seen fi-om a distance, dominates the skyline as you approach the city. Four