University of South Carolina Scholar Commons Theses and Dissertations Fall 2020 Conservative Media’s Coverage of Coronavirus on YouTube: A Qualitative Analysis of Media Effects on Consumers Michael J. Layer Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd Part of the Mass Communication Commons Recommended Citation Layer, M. J.(2020). Conservative Media’s Coverage of Coronavirus on YouTube: A Qualitative Analysis of Media Effects on Consumers. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/ etd/6133 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you by Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. CONSERVATIVE MEDIA’S COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS ON YOUTUBE: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF MEDIA EFFECTS ON CONSUMERS by Michael J. Layer Bachelor of Arts Goucher College, 2017 Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts in Mass Communications College of Information and Communications University of South Carolina 2020 Accepted by: Linwan Wu, Director of Thesis Leigh Moscowitz, Reader Anli Xiao, Reader Cheryl L. Addy, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School © Copyright by Michael J. Layer, 2020 All Rights Reserved. ii DEDICATION To the wonderful creators on the internet whose parasocial relationships have taught me so much about the world and myself - namely Olly Thorn, Philosophy Tube; Carlos Maza; Natalie Wynn, Contrapoints; Lindsey Ellis; Bryan David Gilbert; Katy Stoll and Cody Johnson, Some More News; and Robert Evans, Behind the Bastards - thank you. To Dr. Linwan Wu - I am profoundly grateful for your understanding, guidance, and patience.