JERRY SANDUSKY:AN IMMORAL MAN, OR JUST A NAUGHTY ONE?HOW PROXIMITY TO A SITUATION CAN AFFECT COVERAGE, AND HOW WORDS CAN AFFECT ONE’S PUBLIC IMAGE

SUZANNE WHITE

Research Question

What language is used in each paper to refer to Sandusky’s involvement/level of guilt in the sex-scandal? Based on this framing, which paper appears to present Sandusky in a more negative light?

WHY? Examine how a publication staff’s proximity to a situation

affects the framing of and amount of coverage of an issue

Ethical issue – should you cover an issue that affects you? Sandusky case is perfect example – he worked for school

and was prominent in community

Domain

Penn State’s student-published paper, The Daily Collegian Larger local newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer Textual analysis of any Sandusky-related stories

Search in archives for mention of Sandusky Time frame:

1 paper a week from Nov. 5, 2011 to Jan. 22, 2012 13 issues per paper; 26 total 57 articles total

Findings

Findings

Findings

WHAT?!!

Philadelphia Inquirer Wider variety of terms - appears to present wider angle of

coverage and therefore appears less biased PRESENTS SANDUSKY IN MORE POSITIVE LIGHT

Daily Collegian Strict legal script – smaller angle of coverage Therefore coverage appears more biased PRESENTS SANDUSKY IN MORE NEGATIVE LIGHT WHY attempting to keep bias out in word choice by using legal

terms may have backfired

Context

Penn State football program major part of community culture and identity

Sandusky particularly prominent figure BMSB study group on coverage:

“Although the grand jury investigation into Sandusky’s alleged sex crimes had been

underway for years and Sara Ganim, a journalist at The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa.,

had been reporting on the investigation since March 31,1 it was not until Sandusky’s

initial indictment and subsequent arrest that national media pounced on the story. That

week, there were more than 2,000 stories in newspapers across the nation, as well as

online discussions among sports fans and children’s advocates”

Ethical Issues

Proximity to the situation

Truth telling

To report or not report?

Ethical Theories

DUTY BASED

ENDS BASED

GOLDEN MEAN

VEIL OF IGNORANCE

Report accurate and fair

coverage to readers

Offer wide angle of coverage

for audience to have large picture

Offer most appropriate, effective coverage

to largest audience

News assumed inherently objective;

Treat Sandusky news as any other