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VALUE-FRAMING ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES: AN APPLICATION OF MEDIA SYSTEM DEPENDENCY THEORY*

VALUE-FRAMING ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES: AN APPLICATION OF MEDIA SYSTEM DEPENDENCY THEORY* AbstractThis paper is in the tradition of social analysis aimed at creating frameworks to join mass media and public opinion processes (e.g. Clarke and Evans, 1983; Gamson, 1975; Gitlin, 1980; Hall, 1977; Iyengar and Kinder, 1987; Lang and Lang, 1968, 1983; Lippman, 1922; Mollotch and Lester, 1974; Noelle-Neuman, 1974; Paletz and Entman, 1981; Shaw and McCombs, 1977; Turner and Paz, 1986). After a brief review of media system dependency (MSD) theory, we illustrate how it may apply to public opinion processes that entail contested issue ‘value-frames’ (Ball-Rokeach and Rokeach, 1987). In such cases, the media system is directly implicated in the negotiation of legitimacy of opposing positions on an issue. Our illustrative case is the abortion issue as it has been played out in the United States over recent decades (Luker, 1984). We focus upon the respective capacities of pro- and anti-abortion movements to control the value-frame of media coverage of the issue (Guthrie, 1989). A value-frame may be conceived as ‘… the main substantive theme of a morality play’ (Ball-Rokeach and Tallman, 1979) wherein the distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ hangs in the balance; in this case, between positions on abortion. We suggest that change in the value-frame of media coverage and public discourse may be understood, at least in part, as an outcome of change in contestants' MSD relations. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Public Opinion Research Oxford University Press

VALUE-FRAMING ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES: AN APPLICATION OF MEDIA SYSTEM DEPENDENCY THEORY*

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References (46)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
© World Association for Public Opinion Research
ISSN
0954-2892
eISSN
1471-6909
DOI
10.1093/ijpor/2.3.249
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractThis paper is in the tradition of social analysis aimed at creating frameworks to join mass media and public opinion processes (e.g. Clarke and Evans, 1983; Gamson, 1975; Gitlin, 1980; Hall, 1977; Iyengar and Kinder, 1987; Lang and Lang, 1968, 1983; Lippman, 1922; Mollotch and Lester, 1974; Noelle-Neuman, 1974; Paletz and Entman, 1981; Shaw and McCombs, 1977; Turner and Paz, 1986). After a brief review of media system dependency (MSD) theory, we illustrate how it may apply to public opinion processes that entail contested issue ‘value-frames’ (Ball-Rokeach and Rokeach, 1987). In such cases, the media system is directly implicated in the negotiation of legitimacy of opposing positions on an issue. Our illustrative case is the abortion issue as it has been played out in the United States over recent decades (Luker, 1984). We focus upon the respective capacities of pro- and anti-abortion movements to control the value-frame of media coverage of the issue (Guthrie, 1989). A value-frame may be conceived as ‘… the main substantive theme of a morality play’ (Ball-Rokeach and Tallman, 1979) wherein the distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ hangs in the balance; in this case, between positions on abortion. We suggest that change in the value-frame of media coverage and public discourse may be understood, at least in part, as an outcome of change in contestants' MSD relations.

Journal

International Journal of Public Opinion Research – Oxford University Press

Published: Oct 1, 1990

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