PA 710
Homework # 2
Spring 2001  
Due February 26

Content Analysis

 Your task is to do a content analysis of two newspapers’ coverage of the recent dog mauling incident in San Francisco.   On this page, you will find the first three articles published by the SF Chronicle and the LA Times on the incident. 

The goal is for you to identify and compare the topics and themes addressed by the two newspapers as well as their overall perspective on the incident. To accomplish this task:  

(1)  Read through the articles and make notes of topics covered by each.

(2)  Code the articles by noting the topics along the margin or in a table.

(3)  Note whether each topic was addressed in a positive, neutral or negative manner.

(4)  While coding the articles, note whether the paper seemed to be making any judgments; e.g., who or what was to blame for the incident.

(5)  Figure out how many times paper addressed each topic (and from what perspective—positive, neutral, or negative) by counting the number of times the topic occurs.

(6)  Regroup the topics into more general themes.

(7)  Write a couple of -paragraphs discussing the following (In each case, use your counts to back up your answer):

·          What specific topics related to the incident were of most interest to each newspaper?

·          From what perspective (positive, neutral, or negative) did each newspaper address these topics?

·          How would you compare the perspectives and reporting of the two newspapers with respect to the incident?  Pull out a quote from each paper that exemplifies your conclusion in this regard.

Please turn in:

(a)   Your chart showing the counts

(b)  The narrative requested in number 7.