Journalism Master's Theses

A sense of where you aren’t: basketball birthright at Boston English High and fatherhood in urban hoop culture

Justin A. Rice — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 07:55:39 PDT

Observing the varsity boys basketball team at Boston English High--the nation's oldest public high school--on a near-daily basis, the author examines the role fatherhood plays in urban basketball culture. While societal stereotypes suggest growing up in a two-parent home fosters stability, many fathers in black communities push basketball on their children too hard. And while stereotypes suggest every college and NBA player was raised by a single mom, many coaches actually look for players who have traits most likely obtained in a two-parent home.

The narrative of English High's 2005-06 season focuses on two players on opposite ends of the...

Venezuela: analysis of pro-government media intimidated by the state

Elisa Bermudez — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:58:26 PDT

This thesis estimates the number of pro-government or pro-chavista media intimidated and/or censored by the government of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela between the years 1999 and 2008. It also addresses the complex issue of the state of press freedom and free speech in Venezuela as variable through which human rights and democracy in the South American country should be evaluated.

Getting Into the mainstream: The virtual strategies of the feminist movement in Puerto Rico

Firuzeh Shokooh Valle — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:38:29 PDT

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the feminist movement in Puerto Rico has employed the Internet to advance a feminist agenda in the mainstream media. The results reveal that the listserv, which is the coalition's main virtual platform, provides a safe space for discussions, deliberation, networking, strategizing, consensus building, decision-making, task distribution, and as a source of information. In addition, its content can produce public messages that will circulate in the mainstream media. Another important finding is that the feminist movement's almost complete access to the mainstream media has not necessarily led to an adequate coverage of...

All the ethics that's fit: Jayson Blair, Judith Miller and the ethical culture at The New York Times

James A. Chiavelli II — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:52:43 PST

Ethics codes promulgated by media companies and organizations in the United States have shifted emphasis. From the early ideals about the public's right to know, the pursuit of truth, and protection of subjects' privacy, they have increasingly focused, explicitly or not, on the protection and promotion of companies' (and in some cases, union workers') economic interests. Looking at the Code of Conduct of The New York Times, specifically, through the prism of the missteps of reporters Jayson Blair and Judith Miller, I conclude the Times' primary consideration has been its own interest and not ideals such as ethics or truth....

Airing out the local TV news industry's own dirty laundry: why are some investigative reports censored or killed?

Michael Beaudet — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:21:40 PST

Local television news is the country's most popular source for news, however the industry may not be as forthcoming as the public believes. There is evidence that managers at some television stations water down investigative reports or prevent them from airing at all. This study examines the reasons why local television investigations were censored or killed in New England in the last five years. Journalists reveal that managers censored four stories, which resulted in a softening of the tone of the reports. The journalists also report that managers killed 19 stories and stopped them from airing on television. Much of...