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There's a growing trend of transparency in the media that has been reflected in the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics. SPJ advocates that journalists "explain ethical choices and processes to the audience" and "expose unethical conduct." Transparency currently means taking responsibility for your work and not allowing yourself

There's a growing trend of transparency in the media that has been reflected in the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics. SPJ advocates that journalists "explain ethical choices and processes to the audience" and "expose unethical conduct." Transparency currently means taking responsibility for your work and not allowing yourself to be compromised by conflicts of interest. It doesn't usually mean being open about your beliefs, positions and perspectives. We would argue that it could, and should. There are many examples of publications making mistakes because they lacked the knowledge and understanding of someone from a different perspective. Additionally, there are many examples of journalists lacking in information because they were trying to remain objective. There should be a place where journalists can be open about where they are coming from and give their perspective on a situation. Using many different perspectives we can build a bigger, and more accurate, picture around the context of a situation. This thesis project examines objectivity and proposes a new philosophical approach based on Situated Knowledges by Donna Haraway. We examine media case studies to expose issues with the coverage of news when objectivity is the main goal.
ContributorsVanHorn, Miranda (Co-author) / Shearer, Anne (Co-author) / Rodriguez, Rick (Thesis director) / Bluhm, Michael (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
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Description
Much research has been devoted to identifying trends in either convergence upon a neoliberal model or divergence among welfare states in connection to globalization, but most research has focused on advanced industrialized countries. This has limited our understanding of the current state of convergence or divergence, especially among welfare states

Much research has been devoted to identifying trends in either convergence upon a neoliberal model or divergence among welfare states in connection to globalization, but most research has focused on advanced industrialized countries. This has limited our understanding of the current state of convergence or divergence, especially among welfare states in developing regions. To address this research gap and contribute to the broader convergence vs. divergence debate, this research explores welfare state variation found within Latin America, in terms of the health policy domain, through the use of cross-national data from 18 countries collected between the period of 1995 to 2010 and the application of a series of descriptive and regression analysis techniques. Analyses revealed divergence within Latin America in the form of three distinct welfare states, and that among these welfare states income inequality, trust in traditional public institutions, and democratization, are significantly related to welfare state type and health performance.
ContributorsJohnson, Kory Alfred (Author) / Martin, Nathan (Thesis director) / Gonzales, Vanna (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
This paper describes a thesis project in which the author developed an eight-session, after-school curriculum to teach journalism basics to Desert Mountain High School's newspaper in Scottsdale, Arizona. Wolf's Print, the school's paper, moved to an after-school basis in the 2011-2012 school year as a result of budgetary constraints. The

This paper describes a thesis project in which the author developed an eight-session, after-school curriculum to teach journalism basics to Desert Mountain High School's newspaper in Scottsdale, Arizona. Wolf's Print, the school's paper, moved to an after-school basis in the 2011-2012 school year as a result of budgetary constraints. The topics covered in these sessions ranged from the current state of journalism to learning more specific skills, such as news writing and copy editing. The paper begins with a discussion of the efficacy of after-school programs as a whole. Though these programs have been shown to benefit students, there are also challenges \u2014 most notably attendance and commitment on the part of students \u2014 to a club that is operated on a solely after-school basis. The paper ends with an evaluation of the program and several recommendations to strengthen after-school journalism programs. These recommendations include robust community involvement and teacher commitment to the club.
ContributorsGunderson, Anna Mae (Author) / Gilger, Kristin (Thesis director) / Manning, Jason (Committee member) / Brass, Jory (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
Created2013-05
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DescriptionA nonprofit organization / grassroots movement capturing the voice of a generation of young Arizonans
Created2014-05
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Description

This thesis examines the current polarization of news media, specifically written journalism, either in newspapers or on news websites. Americans increasingly get their news from polarized sources, and that is leading to a large divide in information. This issue is also exacerbated by political idealogy. Furthermore, I explore how the

This thesis examines the current polarization of news media, specifically written journalism, either in newspapers or on news websites. Americans increasingly get their news from polarized sources, and that is leading to a large divide in information. This issue is also exacerbated by political idealogy. Furthermore, I explore how the traditional business model of advertising-based revenue is leading to more polarized news coverage. To combat this, I offer interventions for news organizations, including the importance of journalistic ethics and the possibility of more news organizations transferring to nonprofit status, which has gained traction in recent years. Access to accurate news and information is essential in a functioning democracy, and if polarization and issues in news continue, it will be harmful to America as a whole.

Created2021-05
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Description
The foundations of legacy media, especially the news media, are not as strong as they once were. A digital revolution has changed the operation models for and journalistic organizations are trying to find their place in the new market. This project is intended to analyze the effects of new/emerging technologies

The foundations of legacy media, especially the news media, are not as strong as they once were. A digital revolution has changed the operation models for and journalistic organizations are trying to find their place in the new market. This project is intended to analyze the effects of new/emerging technologies on the journalism industry. Five different categories of technology will be explored. They are as follows: the semantic web, automation software, data analysis and aggregators, virtual reality and drone journalism. The potential of these technologies will be broken up according to four guidelines, ethical implications, effects on the reportorial process, business impacts and changes to the consumer experience. Upon my examination, it is apparent that no single technology will offer the journalism industry the remedy it has been searching for. Some combination of emerging technologies however, may form the basis for the next generation of news. Findings are presented on a website that features video, visuals, linked content, and original graphics. Website found at http://www.explorenewstech.com/
Created2016-05
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Description
Analytics has transformed many of the core principles of sports journalism, forcing journalists to work smarter, harder and more creatively than ever before. Yet reporters today are uniquely prepared to navigate the constantly evolving world of journalism, as they now find themselves armed with a plethora of statistics and data

Analytics has transformed many of the core principles of sports journalism, forcing journalists to work smarter, harder and more creatively than ever before. Yet reporters today are uniquely prepared to navigate the constantly evolving world of journalism, as they now find themselves armed with a plethora of statistics and data that allow storytelling at depths never previously imagined. In interviews with those at the cutting edge of the industry, journalists from around the country imparted insight into how they work to blend new age thinking with time-tested methods of journalism. This thesis expands on those insights and examines the strategies employed to best attack questions of how to best integrate analytics into writing, what role analytics should play in interviews, how to find stories using analytics and others.

The process to answer these questions began by compiling a list of 166 journalists who could provide valuable insight into the current state of sports journalism. Targeted specifically were those journalists who were either currently or had spent extensive time as a beat reporter, as a crucial aspect of the study hinged on the exploration of the role of analytics in day-to-day coverage. Of those 166 journalists, 93 made themselves available through either Twitter direct message or email. Once contacted, 47 of those journalists responded, eventually leading to 27 phone interviews and 7 email interviews.

Each interview began with the journalist establishing a baseline for what they thought the role of analytics should be in the coverage of their respective sports. From there, the conversation often took a linear turn as journalists talked about the experiences in their career that led them to that conclusion, what moments had shifted their overall opinions of analytics, their best approaches for utilizing analytics in both articles and interviews, their favorite and least favorite analytical measures, the gaps that remain in analytics, and the future of the industry as a whole.

Each interview was transcribed, and a number of compelling themes emerged. The many different themes were organized into three different groups, past, present and future, where they were further expanded on to best display the many concepts illustrated in this thesis. Among the themes explored include how journalists use coaches and players to validate statistics, what strategies work best when including analytics in conversations with athletes, how to find story ideas through analytics and the issues plaguing the analytics community. Once themes had been identified, the percentage of journalists who had indicated agreement with the themes were calculated. Thus, themes investigated were represented statistically as well as by a quote from a journalist addressing the idea.

Across 34 interviews with some of the country’s most established and well-respected voices, many of the pressing issues facing analytics in sports journalism today were explored, including the melding of analytical and narrative writing, how best to use analytics in question asking, and the “holy grail” of analytical data. Across interviews, a host of interesting strategies and ideas emerged as journalists examined how the industry reached its current point, what practices are currently most effective, and where the industry is headed. The perspective gained from this thesis gives insight into many of the lesser-discussed elements of journalism, imparting a deeper understanding of the challenges that lay ahead for sports journalism through an examination for how far the industry has come. While analytics and their usage in sports journalism remains a difficult concept to fully encapsulate, this thesis hopefully gives a better look at their complex and ever-evolving relationship.
ContributorsRosenfarb, Jacob Alexander (Author) / Boivin, Paola (Thesis director) / Reed, Sada (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Journalism is one of the most far-reaching mediums to inform the public about environmental and sustainability issues. Mass communication has brought this discussion to an unprecedented level of exposure that continues to escalate, and the quality of storytelling must continue to spark discussion about sustainability and environmental problems. The quality

Journalism is one of the most far-reaching mediums to inform the public about environmental and sustainability issues. Mass communication has brought this discussion to an unprecedented level of exposure that continues to escalate, and the quality of storytelling must continue to spark discussion about sustainability and environmental problems. The quality of environmental journalism, the “researching, verifying, writing, producing and broadcasting of news about the environment” to and for the public sphere, has been a subject of much debate (Pezzullo & Cox, 2012). This beat, relatively new, is an emerging one that serves the public by explaining the importance of protecting and preserving the environment. However, sometimes journalists’ work falls on deaf ears. In order for environmental journalists to be effective storytellers with robust, reliable work that resonates with audiences, they must continue to improve the effectiveness and captivating qualities of their work.
This project will explore how the American public perceives environmental reporting, constraints on its production, an assessment of the industry’s success and growth, and advice from current journalists. I will conclude with a list of the best practices for captivating and effective storytelling. Finally, I will close with a reflection based upon my creative project, a multimedia piece on how citrus crops in Arizona are affected by honey bees. I aim to provide student journalists with an informal guide to the key skills that will help them excel not only in reporting on a certain sustainability topic, but also on the environment as a whole.
ContributorsHenne, Sarabeth Baxter (Author) / French, Lynn (Thesis director) / West, Maureen (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm (Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Journalists are the eyes and ears for the communities in which they serve. They don’t cover all issues and stories, however, not necessarily because of a lack of concern, but due to the lack of diverse voices that work behind-the-scenes, on-air, and serve in leadership positions in television newsrooms. This

Journalists are the eyes and ears for the communities in which they serve. They don’t cover all issues and stories, however, not necessarily because of a lack of concern, but due to the lack of diverse voices that work behind-the-scenes, on-air, and serve in leadership positions in television newsrooms. This paucity of diversity plays out in many more implicit rather than explicit ways. This issue has been addressed by the theoretical framework of intersectionality, utilized as a rationale in this thesis to further develop an argument on how the absence of diversity in television newsrooms affects the entry of new diverse employees in the workplace. The thesis also analyzes microaggressions in the workplace and the factors that influence not only the hiring process but also the ability of newsrooms to retain diverse talent. Most of all, this thesis gives voice to Black female television journalists who stayed in the journalism business despite all odds and highlights their struggles as well as coping strategies for building their careers and taking it to the heights they have.
The creative element of this thesis brings the research to life, with audio and video interviews that describe the challenges and accomplishments of the 11 interviewees currently working in the industry. This thesis reviews recent and older literature to find common trends, explore the issues previously addressed, and uses the interviews to provide a current picture of the situation in television newsrooms.

Keywords: Diversity, Television News, Black Women, Journalists, Leadership, Producers, Broadcasters
Created2019-05
Description
Traditional forms of news distribution are rapidly dying out. Newspaper revenue continues to decline, while internet alternatives, accurate or otherwise, gain traction. One of the fastest growing forms of "new media" is the podcast. Everyone from comedians to organizations like National Public Radio is launching their own, and they are

Traditional forms of news distribution are rapidly dying out. Newspaper revenue continues to decline, while internet alternatives, accurate or otherwise, gain traction. One of the fastest growing forms of "new media" is the podcast. Everyone from comedians to organizations like National Public Radio is launching their own, and they are increasingly becoming legitimate sources of income when supplemented with advertising. Video podcasts have also exploded into the mainstream, generating millions of views on platforms like YouTube. However, it is rare to find a video podcast series with one journalist and a guest, and even less common for a show to be hosted by a college student. The "Tell it Like it is" video podcast is an attempt at bringing college journalists into the world of video podcasting. It examines the extent to which a single person can have a successful podcast while in college and what resources are necessary for the task. The following paper contains the history of podcasting, its growth in the 21st century, the inspiration for this project, an in-depth description and background of each episode, challenges, successes, future endeavors, and a conclusion. An accompanying website serves as the headquarters for the five-part video podcast series. The website also hosts additional information about the subjects and their careers. All episodes have been uploaded to YouTube.
ContributorsDowd, Kyle Christopher (Author) / Knudson, Syleste (Thesis director) / Sandoval, Mathew (Committee member) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12