Award Date

1-1-2004

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

First Committee Member

Paul J. Traudt

Number of Pages

62

Abstract

This study was a content analysis of Las Vegas television news ( N = 1,145) and was designed to determine whether the potential exists for media consumers in the Las Vegas market to become fearful due to the overrepresentation of crime committed by Black offenders. One research question and two hypotheses were generated for this study. Research question one asked if there was an inverse relationship existing between media reports of index crimes and actual data offered by the State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, and was supported. There was partial support for hypothesis one. Results indicated that Latinos were overrepresented and that Blacks were underrepresented in Las Vegas television news. There was no support for hypothesis two; Whites were overrepresented as criminal offenders. A discussion of findings, implications, and suggestions for future research follow.

Keywords

Blacks; Cultivation; Fear; Media; Nevada; News; Las Vegas; Television; Vegas

Controlled Subject

Mass media; Journalism; Blacks--Study and teaching

File Format

pdf

File Size

1157.12 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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