AN ANALYSIS OF THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE IN OHIO’S SIX MAJOR METROPOLITAN NEWSPAPERS TO CITIZEN PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science John Frederick Mueller March 2006 This thesis entitled AN ANALYSIS OF THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE IN OHIO’S SIX MAJOR METROPOLITAN NEWSPAPERS TO CITIZEN PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS by JOHN FREDERICK MUELLER has been approved for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the College of Communication by Daniel Riffe Professor of Journalism Gregory J. Shepherd Dean, College of Communication MUELLER, JOHN FREDERICK. M.S. March 2006. Journalism An Analysis of the Correspondence of Environmental Coverage in Ohio’s Six Major Metropolitan Newspapers to Citizen Perception of Environmental Problems (128 pp.) Director of Thesis: Daniel Riffe Grounded in the theory of agenda-setting, this thesis examines how environmental coverage of Ohio’s six major metropolitan newspapers corresponds with Ohio citizens’ perceptions of selected environmental problems. Consequently, this thesis assesses the role that environmental journalism can play in the formation of the public’s perception of environmental problems. Data representing newspaper environmental agendas were collected using NewsBank and LexisNexis electronic search engines. Data representing citizen environmental agendas were drawn from a public opinion survey. Evidence of actual, obtrusive environmental problems within the newspaper readership market areas was obtained from Federal and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency data. This thesis shows little positive correlation between the environmental coverage of Ohio’s six major metropolitan newspapers and Ohio citizens’ perceptions of selected environmental problems. A media agenda-setting function is not supported. Subsequently, this thesis found that actual, obtrusive environmental problems do not influence the media agenda-setting effect. This thesis suggests that a significant disconnect exists between Ohio’s major metropolitan newspapers and Ohio citizens within newspaper readership market areas regarding the importance each affords selected environmental problems. Approved: Daniel Riffe Professor of Journalism Acknowledgements I dedicate this thesis to my mother and father, whose love and support for me has not wavered in 32 years. Completion of this thesis is a fruitful testament to their commitment as parents, as it represents the accomplishments that a man can achieve when unconditionally encouraged and supported throughout childhood and life. This thesis is also dedicated to my Grandmother and Grandfather Baker, who valued the importance of education and pushed the minds of young people to excel, and to my Grandmother Brown, who was proud of me regardless of achievement. I acknowledge my dear friend, Luther, who accompanied me throughout completion of this project. His sense of strength and loyalty were incomparable. He selflessly gave of his gentleness and kindness and demonstrated that owning and living these qualities are a unique and powerful gift. A heartfelt “thank you” is extended to Professor Daniel Riffe who assisted me in this learning process with enthusiasm, energy, and passion. I thank Dr. Riffe for his consistent willingness and availability to guide me throughout this effort. Dr. Riffe’s professionalism and patience are among the most impressionable qualities that I have witnessed in another individual. I also thank Professors Cary Frith and Bill Reader for their willingness to assist my efforts in completing this thesis. I thank them for their expertise and the knowledge they gave me as instructors and thesis committee members. Finally, I thank Diana Nichols for her diligence and assistance in enabling me to conduct the research necessary to complete this thesis. 6 Table of Contents Page Abstract................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................5 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................8 Chapter 1. Purpose............................................................................................................10 Chapter 2. Introduction .....................................................................................................12 Environmental Problems in Ohio.............................................................................14 Chapter 3. Review of Literature and Hypotheses .............................................................18 Media Influence on Public Perception.....................................................................20 Agenda-Setting ........................................................................................................22 The Obtrusion Factor ...............................................................................................27 Hypotheses...............................................................................................................30 Chapter 4. Method ............................................................................................................32 Environmental Problems..........................................................................................33 Content Analysis......................................................................................................34 Reliability of Keyword/Key-phrase Search.............................................................35 Test of Search Engine Accuracy..............................................................................43 Analysis Strategies...................................................................................................45 Survey ......................................................................................................................45 Newspaper Readership Markets ..............................................................................46 Objective Measures of Obtrusiveness......................................................................50 Chapter 5. Results .............................................................................................................51 Newspaper Data.......................................................................................................60 Akron Beacon Journal........................................................................................60 Cincinnati Enquirer ............................................................................................61 Cleveland Plain Dealer.......................................................................................62 Columbus Dispatch.............................................................................................63 Dayton Daily News .............................................................................................64 Toledo Blade.......................................................................................................64 Comparisons and Contrasts......................................................................................65 Newspapers.........................................................................................................65 Survey respondents .............................................................................................72 Obtrusiveness Data ..................................................................................................77 Air pollution........................................................................................................81 Water pollution ...................................................................................................82 Solid waste..........................................................................................................84 7 Analysis of Hypotheses............................................................................................85 Chapter 6. Discussion .......................................................................................................88 Limitations and Need for Further Study ..................................................................94 References........................................................................................................................101 Appendix A......................................................................................................................106 Appendix B ......................................................................................................................125 8 List of Tables Table Page Table 1. Keywords/key-phrases used in NewsBank and LexisNexis article searches of environmental problems and number of hits retrieved for each paper ..............................36 Table 2. Reliability of environmental problem keywords/key-phrases within each paper... ............................................................................................................................................41 Table 3(a). Reliability of individual environmental problem keywords/key-phrases across the six papers...........................................................................................................42 Table 3(b). Number of relevant