Date of Award
Spring 6-11-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
First Advisor
Dr. Hai Tran
Second Advisor
Dr. Blair Davis
Abstract
This research utilizes content analysis and mixed methods as a way of understanding how COVID-19 related information was relayed from the media to the public during crucial times in U.S. history. The information analyzed entails news media broadcasts that occurred from June 26 to October 2, 2020, when the pandemic was on the rise in terms of cases and deaths. In addition to analyzing specific broadcasts, a comparative analysis was conducted between MSNBC vs. Fox News, in an effort to highlight key events that took place during the battle against COVID-19. This research utilizes agenda setting and framing principles to foster a deeper understanding of what was said by each news broadcast. Results shows that there was a strong divergence of coverage between the two networks. This divergence also highlights how each network chose to talk about cases and deaths in vastly different ways. Supplemental evidence points to Fox News dismissing its COVID-19 mentions, or in some cases ignoring the cases and deaths all together, as the pandemic climbed passed the 200 thousand death count nationally.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Jr., Samuel D., "Catastrophic failure: How COVID-19 was relayed from the media to the public" (2021). College of Communication Master of Arts Theses. 35.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/cmnt/35