Date of Award

12-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Sherer

Abstract

This study examines the visual agenda relevant to the attacks of September 11, 2001, presented by media sources; Time and Newsweek magazine. Photographs immediately following the attack, six months later, one year later, and eighteen-months later, were observed in this study. The research produced a total of 493 photographs. Images were coded for the primary subject, portrayal, perspective, topic, and location. Crosstabs and Chi-square tests were run, and the data collected was used to answer the central research question and sub-questions developed with the assistance of past research. Significant differences in the visual agenda between Time and Newsweek magazine were found for subject, perspective and topic. Similarities were found in the presentation of the location and portrayal of the primary subject. Significant differences were found for all dependent variables from the results of the tests which examined the data over time. The research unfolded a story told from news photographs, capturing a horrifying event that the American people will not forget.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Communication and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright Paula Hoffman Hall December, 2003.

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