Appendix a METHODS of INQUIRY
Appendix A METHODS OF INQUIRY 197 Many of our conclusions regarding the content of gossip col umns were based on sampies of syndicated columns from the time intervals 1954-1955, 1964-1965, and 1974-1975. For each time period, the entire population of column titles published in Philadelphia newspapers was studied. In 1954-1955, the follow ing columnists were examined: Earl Wilson, Dorothy Kilgallen, Jimmie Fidler, and Cholly Knickerbocker in the Daily News; Ed Sullivan, Walter Winchell, Louella Parsons, and Leonard Lyons in the Inquirer; and Hedda Hopper in the Bulletin. In 1964-1965, Earl Wilson, Dorothy Kilgallen, Harry Hefferman, Dick Kleiner, Vernon Scott, and Suzy were studied in the Daily News; Mike Connolly, Louella Parsons, Leonard Lyons, Robert Sylvester, Hy Gardner, Herb Stein, and Walter Winchell in the Inquirer; and Sheilah Graham, Hedda Hopper, and "Here and There" in 199 200 APPENDIX A the Bulletin. In 197~1975, Earl Wilson and Hy Gardner were examined in the Daily News; Joyce Haber, Suzy, Maxine Chesh ire, Betty Beale, "Personalities, Etc.," and "People in Entertain ment" in the Inquirer; and Walter Scott, Marilyn Beck, and "TV Tattletales" in the Bulletin. Two dates per column title were randomly selected within each time interval. Finally, the first twelve instances of gossip in each of the selected titles per date were examined. An instance of gossip was indicated by the presence of information about a well-known person. This procedure yielded a final sampie of 495 instances of gossip. By means of appropriate recording sheets and defini tions of categories, each instance of gossip in the sampie was coded for the following characteristics: 1.
[Show full text]