Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
1962
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Journalism
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to attempt to determine in what degree 10 of the nation’s “best” newspapers met their responsibility to spread knowledge deeply in their coverage of a leading story in Newburgh, NY. Newburgh’s city manager and council attempted to implement a 13-point welfare program that would require welfare recipients to collect their checks at a police station amongst other mandates. Critics argued that this unfairly targeted the black minority. One must question how responsible was press coverage of the Newburgh welfare story? For the purpose of this study, a period of two months was selected on the ground it was a peak period of interest in the Newburgh case. The study indicated that Schramm’s concept of fairness, “seeing the other fellow’s position and presenting it adequately with charity and kindness in the Judeo-Christian tradition” is a goal yet to be achieved. The study also indicated, however, that members of reportorial staffs and their immediate supervisory editors were progressing in the effort to achieve Schramm’s goal of social responsibility; coworkers writing the editorials appeared to lag somewhat in that effort.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Communication
Journalism
Description
Includes bibliographical references
Format
application/pdf
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Dan W., "A Study of the Coverage of the Newburgh, N.Y., Welfare Story by 10 of the Nation's "Best" Newspapers in Terms of Social Responsibility" (1962). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2831.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/2831