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Characterization: a Content Analysis of Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional Features

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Characterization: a Content Analysis of Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional Features Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2010-07-09 Characterization: A Content Analysis of Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional Features Linda Janet Tobler Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Tobler, Linda Janet, "Characterization: A Content Analysis of Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional Features" (2010). Theses and Dissertations. 2346. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2346 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Characterization: A Content Analysis of Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional News Features Linda J. Tobler A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts Dr. Quint Randle Dr. Edward Carter Dr. Edward Adams Department of Communications Brigham Young University August 2010 Copyright © 2010 Linda J. Tobler All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT Characterization: A Content Analysis of Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional News Features Linda J. Tobler Department of Communications Master of Fine Arts Characterization in Pulitzer-awarded features and traditional features was measured using a characterization typology developed by the author. Although some of the results were statistically constrained by a small n, those results which were statistically significant reflect that what separates Pulitzer-winning features from regular features are those elements of characterization particular to scene: a character’s distinctive physical characteristics, clothing and possessions; the setting and environment as it defines a character; a physical description of character that is not lineament nor habitual posture or expression but bodily appearance in the immediate moment; a character’s movements and actions, facial expressions, words, and thoughts. In an era when the predicted demise of newspapers is more fact than fiction, the reader’s experience with newspapers is paramount. Crucial to the news reading experience is the reader’s enjoyment: how “I” experienced a story through empathy, parasocial interaction, and/or identification. Perhaps a solution to newspapers’ loss of readership is scene: within scene, fear, anguish, exhilaration, and joy are not only the experiences of the characters, but also that of the reader’s. Keywords: image, language, character, character construct, characterization, feature story, Pulitzer, newspaper, Internet age, scene, narrative structure, news writing, reader enjoyment, experience, empathy, parasocial interaction, identification, journalist. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my father, Mark Christensen, whose stalwart example and admonition – “No success can compensate for failure to finish your thesis” – propelled me forward. To my mother, Janet Christensen, whose deep, abiding love, belief, and confidence in me gave me the strength to finally triumph. To Diane, Mary, Brian, Brent, Julie, and Michelle: many, many thanks for the spur-of- the-moment help. Although I have often led, I find myself following in your footsteps. I am grateful that our lives will intertwine for eternity. To Aaron, Nathan, Mikayla, Benjamin, and Jessica: the sun does not shine without you. I did not live nor love until I knew you. To Michael, without whom the attainment of this dream was an impossibility. I needed you, and still do. And, finally, to Dr. Edward Adams, whose invitation was an opportunity, a journey, and a blessing. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................................vi LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................vii 1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................1 2 Literature Review......................................................................................................................8 2.1 The Construct of Character...............................................................................................8 2.2 Character and the Mechanism of Enjoyment..................................................................13 2.3 Characterization: The Construct of Character................................................................22 2.4 The Feature Story............................................................................................................35 2.5 Marking Excellence: A History of the Pulitzer Prizes....................................................40 2.6 Summary, Hypotheses, and Research Questions............................................................45 3 Methodology...........................................................................................................................48 3.1 Variables Used in the Analysis........................................................................................48 3.2 Sampling..........................................................................................................................57 3.3 Reliability.........................................................................................................................59 3.4 Coding..............................................................................................................................60 4 Results.....................................................................................................................................61 4.1 Hypotheses Results..........................................................................................................61 4.2 Research Questions Results.............................................................................................62 5 Discussion...............................................................................................................................64 5.1 Similarities Between Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional Features...................................64 5.2 Differences Between Pulitzer-Awarded and Traditional Features..................................66 6 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................73 v 6.1 Study Limitations.............................................................................................................74 6.2 Professional Recommendations.......................................................................................76 APPENDIX A: CODING INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................78 APENDIX B: CHARACTERIZATION CODING SHEET..........................................................88 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................89 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Results…………………………………………………………………………………..63 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Expectancy-Value Model……………………………………………………………….4 Figure 2: Reader Enjoyment/Experience Model…………………………………………………21 Figure 3: Characterization………………………………………………………………………..24 Figure 4: Narrative Structure…………………………………………………………………….37 CHARACTERIZATION IN NEWS FEATURES 1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction Whether in news or novels, character is crucial. Haiti’s earthquake, while otherwise a fascinating natural phenomena, is a tragedy of horrorific proportions when seen through the eyes of those afflicted in the disaster. It is defined by people. Characters and events are inextricably intertwined. So much so that Henry James defined them as one in the same: What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character? What is either a picture or a novel that is not of character? What else do we seek in it and find in it? It is an incident for a woman to stand up with her hand resting on a table and look out at you in a certain way; or if it be not an incident I think it will be hard to say what it is. At the same time it is an expression of character. (1948, p. 13) In the newsroom, journalists are admonished to show, not tell. Despite the admonishment, the people in news stories are often cynically referred to as “talking heads” – a testament to the shallowness of the people featured who are as flat as the newspaper within which they appear. However, it is in the feature story that the rigid mold breaks. It is distinctly separate from hard news and the inverted pyramid: its structure is that of beginning, middle, and end; its action rises and falls and reaches a climax; it utilizes dialogue and fiction techniques like foreshadowing; and, finally, its characters are well developed (Moore & Lamb, 2005, p. 44). Character is crucial: it is people with whom the reader identifies. “Beyond an interesting twist and vivid imagery, compelling narrative requires strong character development, to draw the reader into the character’s world” (Moore & Lamb, 2005, p. 44). If it is in the feature that characters are well developed, then, by extension, Pulitzer prize- winning features epitomize excellence in characterization. “One could certainly argue that all of CHARACTERIZATION IN NEWS FEATURES 2 the stories that focused
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