A Comparative Content Analysis of Marriage Equality in Television News A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Chanell Monique Johnson in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in TV Management February 2015 © Copyright 2015 Chanell Monique Johnson. All Rights Reserved. ii Dedications This thesis is dedicated to the Johnson family and Ms. Alessandra Moreta. Thank you for your unconditional support and encouragement throughout my achievements and adversity. You’ve supported me in the absence of judgment and disparagement. You are the women I aspire to become and your wisdom is my shining light. Ms. Moreta; thank you for your strength, love, encouragement and support. Furthermore, on an organizational level, this thesis is dedicated to the Mazzoni Center, William Way Center, Drexel University’s Center for LGBT Health, National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association and Ms. Edie Windsor. iii Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge my thesis advisor Janice Selinger for her continuous assistance throughout the research process. I would also like to thank the director of the Television Management Program, Albert Tedesco, for providing the necessary tools to expand upon my thinking and playing a pivotal role in assisting with the development of this thesis study. In addition, I would like to acknowledge Professor Karen Curry, Executive Director, Kal and Lucille Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industry Studies, for her expertise and insight. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Leonard Wills J.D. Candidate 2015 Temple University Beasley School of Law for his dedication and countless hours spent decoding news frames. iv Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... vii 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................4 1.2 Background and Need ........................................................................................8 1.3 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................11 1.4 Research Questions ..........................................................................................12 1.5 Definitions........................................................................................................14 1.6 Limitations .......................................................................................................16 1.7 Ethical Considerations ....................................................................................17 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................18 2.1 Television study ...............................................................................................20 2.2 Television data analysis ...................................................................................22 2.3 Television voice analysis results .....................................................................22 2.3 Television visual analysis results ....................................................................23 2.4 Print media study ............................................................................................24 2.5 Print media analysis ........................................................................................25 2.6 Print media results ...........................................................................................26 2.7 Multidimensional internal media study ..........................................................28 2.8 Multidimensional media analysis ...................................................................28 2.9 Multidimensional media results .......................................................................30 2.9a. Summary ......................................................................................................32 3. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................34 3.1 Setting ..............................................................................................................35 3.2 Participants .......................................................................................................36 3.3 Intervention ......................................................................................................38 4. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................43 5. DISCUSSION ..............................................................................................................70 6. LIST OF REFERENCES .............................................................................................78 v 7. APPENDICES .............................................................................................................85 A. Measurement Instrument ...........................................................................85 B. Intercoder Reliability ...............................................................................108 C. Percent of Day Parts.................................................................................128 D. Name of News Programs .........................................................................130 E. Category of Official Speakers ..................................................................141 F. Chi-Square Test .......................................................................................146 vi List of Tables 1. Emphasis of News Stories by Network .......................................................................47 2. National and Local Networks and Event of News Story .............................................51 3. National and Local Networks and Event of Political News Story ...............................53 4. Network and Graphics .................................................................................................55 5. Official Speaking Sources............................................................................................60 6. Official Speaking Sources and Event ..........................................................................61 7. Supportive Political Figures .........................................................................................62 8. Members of the Gay and Lesbian Community Speaking Sources ..............................64 9. Duration of Category One Speaking Sources ..............................................................66 10. Gay and Lesbians Depicted in B-Roll .........................................................................68 vii Abstract A Comparative Content Analysis of Marriage Equality in Television News Chanell Monique Johnson Here remains a major vehicle for Americans to obtain news content. By using a massive platform, this medium has shaped policy and debate around controversial issues throughout its inception. Mainstream news consumption influences opinion and perception in contentious topics. Throughout the early Twenty-first century, television news has sustained existing attention to civil rights issues. However, news content has shifted from demographic civil rights claims to same-sex constitutional rights claims, termed marriage equality. In 2014, these issues gathered much attention as a result of the Supreme Court’s non-ruling on five states’ federal appellate court rulings on gay marriage— Indiana, Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin. Moreover, analytical researchers have charged television news organizations with inaccurate framing and depiction of same-sex civil rights issues; and diminished dialogue between editors and reporters in the newsroom who report on the topic (Aarons, Murphy, The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists, Annenberg School for Communication, 2000). Researchers assert television news organizations’ coverage of marriage equality, and related issues, highlight a one-two dimensional conflict between official speaking viii sources that relegate alternative perspectives by relying on standard historic sources (Moscowitz, 2009). For instance, it is widely recognized that legal, medical, religious and political authorities are sought out field-defined official sources by reporters who can provide an authoritative perspective (Alwood, 1996; Bennet, 2000, Gross, 2001). News coverage often reported conflict among these sources in legal and political developments on marriage equality leaving minimal space for the voices of gay and lesbian citizens most impacted by the controversial debate. Additionally, historically reported events depicted members of the gay and lesbian community as sexually deviant and a threat to social order. The purpose of this research study is to build upon previous claims in the depiction of marriage equality and those portrayed in news coverage related to the issue. Drawing from results and recommendations for further analysis produced by previous researchers, this comparative quantitative content analytical study examined the change of attention, news’ voice narratives, sourcing initiatives and distinctive claims. The study examined the following national networks: ABC, CBS,