Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Integrative complexity coding is a reliable method of analysing verbatim speech and provides an indication of the amount of available cognitive resources. As a non-invasive measure of cognitive processing not susceptible to impression management, it is particularly suited for analysing the reactions of public and political figures during major societal upheaval.An earlier study of live news broadcasts during the 9/11 terrorist attacks found that integrative complexity decreased with increasing levels of negative affect, particularly among North American newscasters (Jhangiani & Suedfeld, 2005). This finding was explained with reference to the disruptive stress hypothesis of integrative complexity, which posits a positive relationship between emotional arousal and integrative complexity at low levels of stress, and a negative relationship between the two variables at high levels of stress. Results from two follow-up studies are presented here.In study 1, a local live news radio broadcast during the 2005 London bombings was coded for integrative complexity and negative affect. Results replicated the earlier findings, revealing a clear curvilinear and sequential relationship between negative affect and integrative complexity.In study 2, the data consisted of the speeches and statements made by George W. Bush and Tony Blair immediately before & after both the 9/11 and London terrorist attacks. In both cases, once again results supported the disruptive stress hypothesis of integrative complexity. In addition, the moderating effect of psychological distance on both the cognitive and affective outcomes was demonstrated. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study surveyed and interviewed producing teams working on both traditional (11/10 p.m.) and shared (10/9 p.m.) late local newscasts alongside in a single newsroom, a growing business model. It measured the motivation of news producers to attract young viewers to local news. Not one producer cited viewers over 50 as their most important audience. There were clear correlations between the age and experience of producers and their motivation to attract young viewers.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: To improve the flow of science news to citizens in the United States, the National Science Foundation funded ScienCentral, a New York science-oriented television production service, to create a weekly feed of high-quality science news stories to local affiliates of ABC and NBC. This paper will report on the first-year evaluation of the impact of the ScienCentral intervention on the awareness and understanding of science news stories by the viewers of local television newscasts.

The evaluation utilized a two-stage panel design and Knowledge Network’s national panel sample to measure the awareness, recall, and understanding of the content of the science news stories broadcast in selected Designated Market Areas (DMA). A baseline study of a sample of respondents collected a set of measures of education, occupation, scientific literacy, and their normal use of a wide array of informal science learning resources other than television news. After a six-week period of exposure to science news stories in their local television newscasts, each respondent was re-surveyed and asked about the frequency of local television news viewing in the preceding six-week period and whether he or she could recall seeing stories on selected topics in local television newscasts. Approximately 2,000 respondents were interviewed in each wave of the evaluation study.

The results show that about six percent of local television news viewers could recall content information from the science news stories broadcast in their market. There was substantial variation in recall from story to story, suggesting that viewers filter science news (as they do other news) and retain only selected information. Given the size of the television audience, this relatively small proportion translates into nearly 10 million individuals. The proposed paper will discuss the implications of these findings in terms of the influence of local television programming in the dissemination of specialized information.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study investigated explanations for the use of sensationalism in television news in different countries. A theoretical model for the production of sensational television news was proposed hat generated explanations at both country and broadcaster levels. Differences in degree of competition, journalistic culture, media policy, type of broadcaster and target group were identified as possible explanatory factors for the use of sensationalism in the news. Dutch, Flemish, Walloon, and French evening newscasts of both public service and commercial broadcasters were content analyzed in order to test the theoretical model. The analysis made clear that level of competition, journalistic culture, and type of broadcaster are important factors to explain sensationalism in television news. However, the way in which these factors influence the extent of sensationalism in news remains partly unclear. Hence, the theoretical model presented may be considered as a starting point for further cross-national research on sensationalism in television news.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: TV news are essentially cultural phenomena. Previous research suggests that the often-overlooked formal and implicit characteristics of newscasts may be systematically related to culture-specific characteristics. Investigating these characteristics by means of a frame-by-frame content analysis is identified as a particularly promising methodological approach. To examine the relationship between culture and selected formal characteristics of newscasts, we present a study that compares material from the USA, the Arab world, and Germany. Results indicate that there are many significant differences, some of which are in line with underlying dimensions of culture. Specifically, we argue that the number of people presented as well as the context in which they are presented can be interpreted as an indicator of collectivism. The drawn conclusions underline the validity of the chosen methodological approach, but also demonstrate the need for more comprehensive and theory-driven category schemes.