Supermarket Tabloid Influence on Mainstream Daily Newspaper Editorial Content
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1998 Supermarket tabloid influence on mainstream daily newspaper editorial content William Glenn Cook University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Cook, William Glenn, "Supermarket tabloid influence on mainstream daily newspaper editorial content" (1998). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 954. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/ylte-3chl 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. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI film s the text directly firom the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter 6ce, ^iiile others may be from any type o f computer printer. The quality of this reproduction Is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect rqnxxluction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these wiH be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, b^inning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from 1 ^ to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A BeU & Howell Infoimatkm Ctmipaiiy 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor NO 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. SUPERMARKET TABLOID INFLUENCE ON MAINSTREAM DAILY NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL CONTENT by William Glenn Cook Bachelor of Arts University of Arizona 1992 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Hank Greenspan School of Communication Studies Greenspan College of Urban Afiairs Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas M ay 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ÜMX Number: 1393915 Copyright 1999 by Cook, Willicun Glenn All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1393915 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 Zed* Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNIV The Graduate College U N iy University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 6 1999 The Thesis prepared by William Glenn Cook Entitled Supermarket tabloid influence on mainstream daily newspaper editorial content is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication Studies Exammatian Committee Chair Dean o f the C r^m te College Examination Committee Member Examination Committee Member Graduate College/Faadty Representative U Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Supermarket Tabloid Influence on Mainstream Daily Newspaper Editorial Content by William Glenn Cook Dr. Barbara Cloud, Examination Committee Chair Associate Provost for Academic Affoirs University o f Nevada, Las Vegas Daily newspapers' content is influenced by the tabloid press in two ways. First, the dailies serve as a watchdog by criticizing tabloids’ sensational news, covering litigation against tabloids, and allowing the subjects of tabloid reports to rebut or criticize allegations tabloids make s^ainst them. Second, the dailies occasionally follow up on or repeat stories first reported by tablokls. This study conqiared the content of three weekly supermarket tabloids — the National Enquirer. Globe, and Star — against the content of six daily newspapers — the Las Vegas Review-JoumaL Las Vegas Sun. Reno Gazette- JoumaL Los Angeles Times. New York Times, and USA Today — over a 26-week period. The content of each daily newspaper was influenced by the tablokls to dif^ing degrees, but the influence amounted to a few paragraphs per week, and the majority of tabloid-influenced reports were published in sections dedicated to news of entertainment, celebrities, and recognizable figures. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... in ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................. vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 1 The Problem .............................................................................................................. 3 Thesis Structure..........................................................................................................6 Definition of Term s ................................................................................................... 7 The Evolution of the Tabloid Press ......................................................................... 8 The Study’s Significance .........................................................................................18 Research Question ................................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER n REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .................................................. 34 Previous Research on the Tabloid Press ................................................................. 34 Previous Research on News Content and News Selection ..................................... 40 CHAPTER m METHOD ................................................................................................... 45 Procedure ................................................................................................................ 48 CHAPTER IV RESULTS ................................................................................................. 51 The Tabloid Presidency .......................................................................................... 56 Paula Jones’ Cosmetic Surgery ..............................................................................64 Calista Flockhart’s W eight...................................................................................... 69 The Investigation of JonBenet Ramsey’s Slaying .................................................. 73 The Investigation of Princess Diana’s Life and D eath............................................75 The Personal Lives o f Frank and Kathie Lee Gififord ............................................77 CHAPTER V DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................ 80 D iscussion ................................................................................................................ 80 Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 85 Limitations of the Study .......................................................................................... 89 Recommendations for Future Research .................................................................90 APPENDIX I WATCHDOG STORIES........................................................................... 94 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPENDIX n FOLLOW-UP STORIES ........................................................................ 106 REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................120 VITA ....................................................................................................................................127 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many thanks to my thesis committee members, especially chairperson Dr. Barbara Cloud, for their interest in my research and guidance in presenting it. My deepest gratitude goes to ny wife, Linda