Media Representations of the Iwing Oil Refinery Strike 1994-1996
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IdentiQing Ideology: Media Representations of the Iwing Oil Refinery Strike 1994-1996. Erin Steuter A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Programme in Sociology York University North York, Ontario May 1998 Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie SeMces services bibliographiques 395 wetlingbori Sbeet 395. wellingb#r OttawaON K1AON4 Ottawa ON KIA ON4 m canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Iiceflce non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibiiothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distri'bute or seU reproduire, prêter, distri'buer ou copies of this thesis m microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/fiim. de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ovvnership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thése. thesis nor substantid extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantieis may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. by Erin Steuter a dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Siudies of York University rn partial fulfillment of the requtrements for the degree of Permission has been granted to the LIBRARY OF YORK UNIVERSITY to lend or seIl copies of this dissertation, to the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA to microfilm this dissertation and to lend or seIl copies of the film. and to UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS to publish an abstract of this dissertation. The author reserves other publication rights. and neither the dissertation nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwrse reproduced without the author's written permission. ABSTRACT Among scholars there is a persistent confùsion over the significance and multiple rneanings of ideology. Ideology is, however, a profoundly important concept in socid analysis. In this dissertation 1 show that we need to understand it better both in theory and practice, to enmre that it remains a central tool in social analysis. 1 examine the development of ideology as a theoretical concept, exploring the ways in which classical and contemporary theorists have defined and utilized the term. The reader will see that the analyst cm look at ideology in the restrictive sense, emphasizing coherent and well- established political ideologies, or ideology can be viewed in an inclusive sense, in which ideology is said to be present even though the ideas lack the coherence and an easily -recognized label. After reviewing the literature on media analysis, 1 undertake a case study that highlights the workings of ideology in the news media. This case study focuses on the media coverage of a strike at the Irving Oil Refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick fiom 1994- 1996. The media coverage of this labour dispute provides fertile ground for an analysis of the workings of ideology. A vaxiety of central issues are located here, including: monopoly ownenhip of the New Brunswick media by the Irving Group of Cornpanies; the concept of "manufactureci" news; the ideological presentation of strikes in general; and the representation of changing labour relations in a post-industrial, globally-oriented society. The media seems a particularly appropriate social institution in which to explore the mature of ideology. My goal here is to examine the way in which a select group of newspapers covered the refmery strike. The papers chosen are the four New Brunswick English-language Mypapers as well as selected English- language papers elsewhere in Canada. My fmdings support the view that ideology is still manifested in the media However, it is clear that the nature of ideology is changing. Evidence of resûictive ideologies like "liberalism" and "conservatism" is on the decline, though the Saint John Telegraph-Journal is the most "neoliberal" of the four New Brunswick dailies. Instead, more inclusive ideologies like "defeatism" and "individualism" were prominently featured in the other papers, as weli as the Telegrclph. Finally, 1 argue that the Irving Oil Refinery Strike, its media coverage, and the aftermath, suggest that New Brunswick has entered a hegemonic order in the Gramscian sense, in which the curent organization of the provincial political economy appears to be "natural" to a majority of people. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was a team effort, and although it bears my narne, it would not have been completed without the active support and encouragement of many special people. First of ali 1 wodd like to thank Ray Moms, my supervisor, who rescued me fiom becoming another one of the doctoral attrition statistics. 1 am very grateful to him for believing in me and this work. 1 thank him for his kind guidance, attentive supervision, and constant support. 1 am also very grateN to Gordon Darroch for his positive input and constructive ideas that helped to improve the dissertation. Barbara Hanson deserves credit for keeping me thinking clearly about what questions 1 was asking and what answers 1 was giving. Jan Newson was my fnend at York and shed her confidence in my academic abilities. My external examiners were exceptionally supportive of my project and 1 sincerely appreciate their efforts to create a positive and collegial defense. 1 am also very grateful to Ursuia Kruger who, for eleven years, rernembered my name among the hundreds of graduate students cornpeting for her attentions, and who expedited every administrative detail for me as 1 struggled with the challenges of completing this work fiom New Brunswick. 1 also wish to thank the Social Sciences and Hurnanities Research Council of Canada for the financial assistance they provided for this project. They are a valued but endangered academic resource. At Mount Allison University, much appreciation goes to my colleagues in the Sociology/Anthropology department for believing in my potential and heartening me as 1 went through the fuial stages of cornpleting this work. Heather Patterson has shared my interest in labour and social justice and I thaak her for dropping everything on several occasions to help me meet my deadlines. 1 aiso wish to acknowiedge my students who expressed such confidence and support for my continuhg career as a University professor. My friends Michael Clow and Susan Machum gave me valuable advice on the expectations of our guild system. Marianne Parsons has been rny staunch comrade throughout our shed rigours in the doctoral programme, 1 wish her success as she continues in the battle. Deborah Wills joined me in many breakfast brain storming sessions that helped develop this work, and has been my specid friend and confidante. 1 wish to thank my mother for valuing education so highly, and for being my strong woman role model. My fondest appreciation goes to my daughter Charlotte who inspired me with her detemined pride, and rny warmest affection for my daughter Marilla for her loving embraces. My final words are for my husband, Geoff, without whose unwavering support, constant encouragement and intellectual partnership this work would never have been written. He has my profoundest love and appreciation. vii Table of Contents LThe Restrictive View of Ideology and its Decline ............................. 17 -Pre-history of Ideology -The Idealism-Materialkm Diaiectic -Durkheim and Weber 3.The Struggle Between the Inclusive and Restrictive Views ............ 68 -Antonio Gramsci -The Return of Ideaiism: Lukacs/Mannheim/Frankfurt School -Postwar Ideology: Lefi and Right -Poststructuralism 4.Ideology and the News Media .............................................-.-........... 142 6.Case Study: the Irving Group of Cornpanies ....................................194 7.Data Analysis .... .. .... .... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. -225 9.Appendix ............................................. ................................................270 -Chronology of Events: Irving Oil Refinery Strike 1994-96 List of Tables Table 1: Article Length ..................................................... 226 Table 2: Frequency of Coverage............... ... .... .. ....... 27 Table 3: Precentage of Articles DefmedResponded to ......... 248 by various Sources Chapter One: Introduction Introduction The conceptual terrain suggested by the word "ideology" is a thorny one: the terni's fiequent and often misleading use has created an overgrown and chaoûc landscape. As used regularly in the media and in general discussion, ideology is a concept which in its most common usage is frequently presented as a form of propaganda or lie: "1 have truth and you have ideology." Among scholars there is a persistent confusion over the significance and multiple meanings of ideology. Ideology is, however, a profoundly important concept in social analysis. In this dissertation 1 will show that we need to understand it better both in theory and practice, penetrating the labyrinthian growth that often obscures both the concept and its centrdity. 1 will therefore examine the development of ideology as a theoretical concept, exploring the ways in which classical and contemporary theorists have defined and utilized the term. In addition, I will undertake a case study that highlights the workings of ideology in the media. This case study focuses on the media coverage of a strike at the Irving Oil Refmery