Sample size in content analysis of Weekly News Magazines

Journalism and Mass Communication Quaterly

Volumn 73, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 635-644

  Riffe, Daniel ^a   Lacy, Stephen ^a   Drager, Michael W ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0000378006     PISSN: 10776990     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/107769909607300310     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Guido H. Stempel III, "Sample Size for Classifying Subject Matter in Dailies,'' Journalism Quarterly 29 (summer 1952): 333-34; Robert L. Jones and Roy E. Carter Jr., "Some Procedures for Estimating 'News Hole' in Content Analysis," Public Opinion Quarterly 23 (fall 1959): 399-403; and Daniel Riffe, Charles F. Aust, and Stephen R. Lacy, "The Effectiveness of Random, Consecutive Day and Constructed Week Sampling in Newspaper Content Analysis," Journalism Quarterly 70 (spring 1993): 133-39.
2. Guido H. Stempel III, "Sample Size for Classifying Subject Matter in Dailies,'' Journalism Quarterly 29 (summer 1952): 333-34; Robert L. Jones and Roy E. Carter Jr., "Some Procedures for Estimating 'News Hole' in Content Analysis," Public Opinion Quarterly 23 (fall 1959): 399-403; and Daniel Riffe, Charles F. Aust, and Stephen R. Lacy, "The Effectiveness of Random, Consecutive Day and Constructed Week Sampling in Newspaper Content Analysis," Journalism Quarterly 70 (spring 1993): 133-39.
3. Guido H. Stempel III, "Sample Size for Classifying Subject Matter in Dailies,'' Journalism Quarterly 29 (summer 1952): 333-34; Robert L. Jones and Roy E. Carter Jr., "Some Procedures for Estimating 'News Hole' in Content Analysis," Public Opinion Quarterly 23 (fall 1959): 399-403; and Daniel Riffe, Charles F. Aust, and Stephen R. Lacy, "The Effectiveness of Random, Consecutive Day and Constructed Week Sampling in Newspaper Content Analysis," Journalism Quarterly 70 (spring 1993): 133-39.
4. We examined each study identified as magazine content analysis in all Journalism Quarterly indices through Autumn 1994 (vol. 71 no. 3). The accuracy of the indexing process was not assessed. In 1996, Journalism Quarterly became Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly.
5. Carol H. Weiss, "What America's Leaders Read," Public Opinion Quarterly 38 (spring 1974): 1-22. On the other hand, a number of studies have centered on the alleged partisanship associated with each news magazine. Melvin L. DeFleur and Everette Dennis describe Time as quite Republican originally, but now more moderate; Newsweek as liberal; and U.S. News & World Report as having a "strong business orientation," in their Understanding Mass Communication, 5th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994), 136. However, Evarts and Stempel found that the assumed continuum (Newsweek liberal, U.S. News conservative, and Time "between") was not related to content in their study of 1972 campaign coverage. See Dru R. Evarts and Guido H. Stempel III, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign by TV, News Magazines and Major Newspapers," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1974): 645-48, 676.
6. Carol H. Weiss, "What America's Leaders Read," Public Opinion Quarterly 38 (spring 1974): 1-22. On the other hand, a number of studies have centered on the alleged partisanship associated with each news magazine. Melvin L. DeFleur and Everette Dennis describe Time as quite Republican originally, but now more moderate; Newsweek as liberal; and U.S. News & World Report as having a "strong business orientation," in their Understanding Mass Communication, 5th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994), 136. However, Evarts and Stempel found that the assumed continuum (Newsweek liberal, U.S. News conservative, and Time "between") was not related to content in their study of 1972 campaign coverage. See Dru R. Evarts and Guido H. Stempel III, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign by TV, News Magazines and Major Newspapers," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1974): 645-48, 676.
7. Carol H. Weiss, "What America's Leaders Read," Public Opinion Quarterly 38 (spring 1974): 1-22. On the other hand, a number of studies have centered on the alleged partisanship associated with each news magazine. Melvin L. DeFleur and Everette Dennis describe Time as quite Republican originally, but now more moderate; Newsweek as liberal; and U.S. News & World Report as having a "strong business orientation," in their Understanding Mass Communication, 5th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994), 136. However, Evarts and Stempel found that the assumed continuum (Newsweek liberal, U.S. News conservative, and Time "between") was not related to content in their study of 1972 campaign coverage. See Dru R. Evarts and Guido H. Stempel III, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign by TV, News Magazines and Major Newspapers," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1974): 645-48, 676.
8. DeFleur and Dennis (Understanding Mass Communication, 131), while noting the "national newspaper" role news magazines have long served, point out that their increase in circulation -18 percent during the last 20 years - has not kept pace with the growth of their target demographic category.
9. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
10. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
11. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
12. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
13. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
14. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
15. Consecutive issue samples were used to explore accuracy of news magazines' gossipy predictions, presidential coverage, campaign coverage, and Supreme Court coverage. See Michael W. Singletary, Raymond Boland, William Izzard, and Terry Rosser, "How Accurate are News Magazines' Forecasts?" Journalism Quarterly 60 (summer 1983): 342-44; John C. Merrill, "How Time Stereotyped Three U.S. Presidents," Journalism Quarterly 42 (autumn 1965): 563-70; Evarts and Stempel, "Coverage of the 1972 Campaign"; Robert T. Buckman, "How Eight Weekly Newsmagazines Covered Elections in Six Countries," Journalism Quarterly 70 (winter 1993): 780-92; and E.F. Einseidel and M. Jane Bibbee, "The News Magazines and Minority Candidates," Journalism Quarterly 56 (spring 1979): 102-105; Michael E. Solimine, "Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 57 (winter 1980): 661-63; and J. Douglas Tarpley, "American Newsmagazine Coverage of the Supreme Court," Journalism Quarterly 61 (winter 1984): 801-804.
16. Examples include studies of ad portrayal of the elderly and blacks, and AIDS coverage. Brian Kvasnicka, Barbara Beymer, and Richard M. Perloff, "The Portrayal of the Elderly in Magazine Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 59 (winter 1982): 656-58; George M. Zinkhan, Keith K. Cox, and Jae W. Hong, "Changes in Stereotypes: Blacks and Whites in Magazine Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 63 (autumn 1986): 568-72; Anette Grube and Karin Boehme-Duerr, "AIDS in International News Magazines," Journalism Quarterly 65 (autumn 1988): 686-89.
17. Examples include studies of ad portrayal of the elderly and blacks, and AIDS coverage. Brian Kvasnicka, Barbara Beymer, and Richard M. Perloff, "The Portrayal of the Elderly in Magazine Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 59 (winter 1982): 656-58; George M. Zinkhan, Keith K. Cox, and Jae W. Hong, "Changes in Stereotypes: Blacks and Whites in Magazine Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 63 (autumn 1986): 568-72; Anette Grube and Karin Boehme-Duerr, "AIDS in International News Magazines," Journalism Quarterly 65 (autumn 1988): 686-89.
18. Examples include studies of ad portrayal of the elderly and blacks, and AIDS coverage. Brian Kvasnicka, Barbara Beymer, and Richard M. Perloff, "The Portrayal of the Elderly in Magazine Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 59 (winter 1982): 656-58; George M. Zinkhan, Keith K. Cox, and Jae W. Hong, "Changes in Stereotypes: Blacks and Whites in Magazine Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 63 (autumn 1986): 568-72; Anette Grube and Karin Boehme-Duerr, "AIDS in International News Magazines," Journalism Quarterly 65 (autumn 1988): 686-89.
19. Rich scanned three years of issues for "all articles relating to science and medicine." Perry looked at all 1966-73 business sections in news magazines for "foreign industrial disputes." Fedler looked at every relevant article in all issues to find coverage of the campaigns of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Moriarty and Popovich located all photos in a campaign. Mujahid's coders "physically checked" all 1962-65 issues for articles on Pakistan. Oates looked at all issues following the first human heart transplant for any social or ethical content in science coverage. See Jonathon T. Rich, "A Measure of Comprehensiveness in Newsmagazine Science Coverage," Journalism Quarterly 58 (summer 1981): 248-53; David K. Perry, "Foreign Industrial Disputes in Time and Newsweek, 1966-1973," Journalism Quarterly 58 (autumn 1981): 439-43; Fred Fedler, Ron Smith, and Mike Meeske, "Time and Newsweek Favor John F. Kennedy, Criticize Robert and Edward Kennedy," Journalism Quarterly 60 (autumn 1983): 489-96; Sandra E. Moriarty and Mark N. Popovich, "Newsmagazine Visuals and the 1988 Presidential Election," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 371-80; Sharif al Mujahid, "Coverage of Pakistan in Three U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 47 (spring 1970): 126-30, 165; and William R. Gates, "Social and Ethical Content in Science Coverage by Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 50 (winter 1973): 680-84.
20. Rich scanned three years of issues for "all articles relating to science and medicine." Perry looked at all 1966-73 business sections in news magazines for "foreign industrial disputes." Fedler looked at every relevant article in all issues to find coverage of the campaigns of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Moriarty and Popovich located all photos in a campaign. Mujahid's coders "physically checked" all 1962-65 issues for articles on Pakistan. Oates looked at all issues following the first human heart transplant for any social or ethical content in science coverage. See Jonathon T. Rich, "A Measure of Comprehensiveness in Newsmagazine Science Coverage," Journalism Quarterly 58 (summer 1981): 248-53; David K. Perry, "Foreign Industrial Disputes in Time and Newsweek, 1966-1973," Journalism Quarterly 58 (autumn 1981): 439-43; Fred Fedler, Ron Smith, and Mike Meeske, "Time and Newsweek Favor John F. Kennedy, Criticize Robert and Edward Kennedy," Journalism Quarterly 60 (autumn 1983): 489-96; Sandra E. Moriarty and Mark N. Popovich, "Newsmagazine Visuals and the 1988 Presidential Election," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 371-80; Sharif al Mujahid, "Coverage of Pakistan in Three U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 47 (spring 1970): 126-30, 165; and William R. Gates, "Social and Ethical Content in Science Coverage by Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 50 (winter 1973): 680-84.
21. Rich scanned three years of issues for "all articles relating to science and medicine." Perry looked at all 1966-73 business sections in news magazines for "foreign industrial disputes." Fedler looked at every relevant article in all issues to find coverage of the campaigns of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Moriarty and Popovich located all photos in a campaign. Mujahid's coders "physically checked" all 1962-65 issues for articles on Pakistan. Oates looked at all issues following the first human heart transplant for any social or ethical content in science coverage. See Jonathon T. Rich, "A Measure of Comprehensiveness in Newsmagazine Science Coverage," Journalism Quarterly 58 (summer 1981): 248-53; David K. Perry, "Foreign Industrial Disputes in Time and Newsweek, 1966-1973," Journalism Quarterly 58 (autumn 1981): 439-43; Fred Fedler, Ron Smith, and Mike Meeske, "Time and Newsweek Favor John F. Kennedy, Criticize Robert and Edward Kennedy," Journalism Quarterly 60 (autumn 1983): 489-96; Sandra E. Moriarty and Mark N. Popovich, "Newsmagazine Visuals and the 1988 Presidential Election," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 371-80; Sharif al Mujahid, "Coverage of Pakistan in Three U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 47 (spring 1970): 126-30, 165; and William R. Gates, "Social and Ethical Content in Science Coverage by Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 50 (winter 1973): 680-84.
22. Rich scanned three years of issues for "all articles relating to science and medicine." Perry looked at all 1966-73 business sections in news magazines for "foreign industrial disputes." Fedler looked at every relevant article in all issues to find coverage of the campaigns of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Moriarty and Popovich located all photos in a campaign. Mujahid's coders "physically checked" all 1962-65 issues for articles on Pakistan. Oates looked at all issues following the first human heart transplant for any social or ethical content in science coverage. See Jonathon T. Rich, "A Measure of Comprehensiveness in Newsmagazine Science Coverage," Journalism Quarterly 58 (summer 1981): 248-53; David K. Perry, "Foreign Industrial Disputes in Time and Newsweek, 1966-1973," Journalism Quarterly 58 (autumn 1981): 439-43; Fred Fedler, Ron Smith, and Mike Meeske, "Time and Newsweek Favor John F. Kennedy, Criticize Robert and Edward Kennedy," Journalism Quarterly 60 (autumn 1983): 489-96; Sandra E. Moriarty and Mark N. Popovich, "Newsmagazine Visuals and the 1988 Presidential Election," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 371-80; Sharif al Mujahid, "Coverage of Pakistan in Three U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 47 (spring 1970): 126-30, 165; and William R. Gates, "Social and Ethical Content in Science Coverage by Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 50 (winter 1973): 680-84.
23. Rich scanned three years of issues for "all articles relating to science and medicine." Perry looked at all 1966-73 business sections in news magazines for "foreign industrial disputes." Fedler looked at every relevant article in all issues to find coverage of the campaigns of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Moriarty and Popovich located all photos in a campaign. Mujahid's coders "physically checked" all 1962-65 issues for articles on Pakistan. Oates looked at all issues following the first human heart transplant for any social or ethical content in science coverage. See Jonathon T. Rich, "A Measure of Comprehensiveness in Newsmagazine Science Coverage," Journalism Quarterly 58 (summer 1981): 248-53; David K. Perry, "Foreign Industrial Disputes in Time and Newsweek, 1966-1973," Journalism Quarterly 58 (autumn 1981): 439-43; Fred Fedler, Ron Smith, and Mike Meeske, "Time and Newsweek Favor John F. Kennedy, Criticize Robert and Edward Kennedy," Journalism Quarterly 60 (autumn 1983): 489-96; Sandra E. Moriarty and Mark N. Popovich, "Newsmagazine Visuals and the 1988 Presidential Election," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 371-80; Sharif al Mujahid, "Coverage of Pakistan in Three U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 47 (spring 1970): 126-30, 165; and William R. Gates, "Social and Ethical Content in Science Coverage by Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 50 (winter 1973): 680-84.
24. Rich scanned three years of issues for "all articles relating to science and medicine." Perry looked at all 1966-73 business sections in news magazines for "foreign industrial disputes." Fedler looked at every relevant article in all issues to find coverage of the campaigns of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Moriarty and Popovich located all photos in a campaign. Mujahid's coders "physically checked" all 1962-65 issues for articles on Pakistan. Oates looked at all issues following the first human heart transplant for any social or ethical content in science coverage. See Jonathon T. Rich, "A Measure of Comprehensiveness in Newsmagazine Science Coverage," Journalism Quarterly 58 (summer 1981): 248-53; David K. Perry, "Foreign Industrial Disputes in Time and Newsweek, 1966-1973," Journalism Quarterly 58 (autumn 1981): 439-43; Fred Fedler, Ron Smith, and Mike Meeske, "Time and Newsweek Favor John F. Kennedy, Criticize Robert and Edward Kennedy," Journalism Quarterly 60 (autumn 1983): 489-96; Sandra E. Moriarty and Mark N. Popovich, "Newsmagazine Visuals and the 1988 Presidential Election," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 371-80; Sharif al Mujahid, "Coverage of Pakistan in Three U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 47 (spring 1970): 126-30, 165; and William R. Gates, "Social and Ethical Content in Science Coverage by Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 50 (winter 1973): 680-84.
25. To look at 1980-1988 news magazine coverage of terrorism, Simmons and Lowry drew a systematic random sample from pertinent articles in the Guide. Rosi's study of 1954-1958 nuclear test ban coverage sampled every third article in the Guide. Showalter looked at all articles on conscientious objectors in the Guide, an approach used by Yu and Riffe to study coverage of Chinese leaders, and by Moore et al. to study coverage of insects. See Brian K. Simmons and David N. Lowry, "Terrorists in the News, as Reflected in Three News Magazines, 1980-88," Journalism Quarterly 67 (winter 1990): 692-96; Eugene J. Rosi, "How 50 Periodicals and the Times Interpreted the Test Ban Controversy," Journalism Quarterly 41 (autumn 1964): 545-54; Stuart W. Showalter, "American Magazine Coverage of Objectors to the Vietnam War," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1976): 648-52, 688; Yang-Chou Yu and Daniel Riffe, "Chiang and Mao in U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 66 (winter 1989): 913-19; and Wayne S. Moore, David R. Bowers, and Theodore A. Granovsky, "What are Magazines Telling Us About Insects," Journalism Quarterly 59 (autumn 1982): 464-67.
26. To look at 1980-1988 news magazine coverage of terrorism, Simmons and Lowry drew a systematic random sample from pertinent articles in the Guide. Rosi's study of 1954-1958 nuclear test ban coverage sampled every third article in the Guide. Showalter looked at all articles on conscientious objectors in the Guide, an approach used by Yu and Riffe to study coverage of Chinese leaders, and by Moore et al. to study coverage of insects. See Brian K. Simmons and David N. Lowry, "Terrorists in the News, as Reflected in Three News Magazines, 1980-88," Journalism Quarterly 67 (winter 1990): 692-96; Eugene J. Rosi, "How 50 Periodicals and the Times Interpreted the Test Ban Controversy," Journalism Quarterly 41 (autumn 1964): 545-54; Stuart W. Showalter, "American Magazine Coverage of Objectors to the Vietnam War," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1976): 648-52, 688; Yang-Chou Yu and Daniel Riffe, "Chiang and Mao in U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 66 (winter 1989): 913-19; and Wayne S. Moore, David R. Bowers, and Theodore A. Granovsky, "What are Magazines Telling Us About Insects," Journalism Quarterly 59 (autumn 1982): 464-67.
27. To look at 1980-1988 news magazine coverage of terrorism, Simmons and Lowry drew a systematic random sample from pertinent articles in the Guide. Rosi's study of 1954-1958 nuclear test ban coverage sampled every third article in the Guide. Showalter looked at all articles on conscientious objectors in the Guide, an approach used by Yu and Riffe to study coverage of Chinese leaders, and by Moore et al. to study coverage of insects. See Brian K. Simmons and David N. Lowry, "Terrorists in the News, as Reflected in Three News Magazines, 1980-88," Journalism Quarterly 67 (winter 1990): 692-96; Eugene J. Rosi, "How 50 Periodicals and the Times Interpreted the Test Ban Controversy," Journalism Quarterly 41 (autumn 1964): 545-54; Stuart W. Showalter, "American Magazine Coverage of Objectors to the Vietnam War," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1976): 648-52, 688; Yang-Chou Yu and Daniel Riffe, "Chiang and Mao in U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 66 (winter 1989): 913-19; and Wayne S. Moore, David R. Bowers, and Theodore A. Granovsky, "What are Magazines Telling Us About Insects," Journalism Quarterly 59 (autumn 1982): 464-67.
28. To look at 1980-1988 news magazine coverage of terrorism, Simmons and Lowry drew a systematic random sample from pertinent articles in the Guide. Rosi's study of 1954-1958 nuclear test ban coverage sampled every third article in the Guide. Showalter looked at all articles on conscientious objectors in the Guide, an approach used by Yu and Riffe to study coverage of Chinese leaders, and by Moore et al. to study coverage of insects. See Brian K. Simmons and David N. Lowry, "Terrorists in the News, as Reflected in Three News Magazines, 1980-88," Journalism Quarterly 67 (winter 1990): 692-96; Eugene J. Rosi, "How 50 Periodicals and the Times Interpreted the Test Ban Controversy," Journalism Quarterly 41 (autumn 1964): 545-54; Stuart W. Showalter, "American Magazine Coverage of Objectors to the Vietnam War," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1976): 648-52, 688; Yang-Chou Yu and Daniel Riffe, "Chiang and Mao in U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 66 (winter 1989): 913-19; and Wayne S. Moore, David R. Bowers, and Theodore A. Granovsky, "What are Magazines Telling Us About Insects," Journalism Quarterly 59 (autumn 1982): 464-67.
29. To look at 1980-1988 news magazine coverage of terrorism, Simmons and Lowry drew a systematic random sample from pertinent articles in the Guide. Rosi's study of 1954-1958 nuclear test ban coverage sampled every third article in the Guide. Showalter looked at all articles on conscientious objectors in the Guide, an approach used by Yu and Riffe to study coverage of Chinese leaders, and by Moore et al. to study coverage of insects. See Brian K. Simmons and David N. Lowry, "Terrorists in the News, as Reflected in Three News Magazines, 1980-88," Journalism Quarterly 67 (winter 1990): 692-96; Eugene J. Rosi, "How 50 Periodicals and the Times Interpreted the Test Ban Controversy," Journalism Quarterly 41 (autumn 1964): 545-54; Stuart W. Showalter, "American Magazine Coverage of Objectors to the Vietnam War," Journalism Quarterly 53 (winter 1976): 648-52, 688; Yang-Chou Yu and Daniel Riffe, "Chiang and Mao in U.S. Newsmagazines," Journalism Quarterly 66 (winter 1989): 913-19; and Wayne S. Moore, David R. Bowers, and Theodore A. Granovsky, "What are Magazines Telling Us About Insects," Journalism Quarterly 59 (autumn 1982): 464-67.
30. Paul Lester and Ron Smith, "African-American Photo Coverage in Life, Newsweek and Time, 1937-1988," Journalism Quarterly 67 (spring 1990): 128-36.
31. Leonard N. Reid and Lawrence C. Soley, "Sports Illustrated's Coverage of Women in Sports," Journalism Quarterly 56 (winter 1979): 861-63.
32. J. S. Sorenson and D. D. Sorenson, "A Comparison of Science Content in Magazines in 1964-65 and 1969-70," Journalism Quarterly 50 (spring 1973): 97-101.
33. Donald F. Roberts, Linda A. Sikorski, and William J. Paisley, "Letters in Mass Magazines as 'Outcroppings' of Public Concern," Journalism Quarterly 46 (winter 1969): 743-52.
34. Herbert Otto, "Sex and Violence on the American Newsstand," Journalism Quarterly 40 (winter 1963): 19-26.
35. James W. Tankard and Kate Peirce, "Alcohol Advertising and Magazine Editorial Content," Journalism Quarterly 59 (summer 1982): 302-05.
36. Kuo-jen Tsang, "News Photos in Time and Newsweek," Journalism Quarterly 61 (autumn 1984): 578-84, 723.
37. David E. Carter, "The Changing Face of Life's Advertisements," Journalism Quarterly 46 (spring 1969): 87-93.
38. Stempel, "Sample Size for Classifying Subject Matter in Dailies."
39. Jones and Carter, "Some Procedures for Estimating 'News Hole' in Content Analysis."
40. Riffe, Aust, and Lacy, "The Effectiveness of Random, Consecutive Day and Constructed Week Sampling."
41. Riffe, Aust, and Lacy, "The Effectiveness of Random, Consecutive Day and Constructed Week Sampling," 139.
42. Stephen Lacy, Kay Robinson, and Daniel Riffe, "Sample Size in Content Analysis of Weekly Newspapers," Journalism Quarterly 72 (summer 1995): 336-45; and Daniel Riffe, Jason Nagovan, Stephen Lacy, and Larry Burkum, "The Effectiveness of Simple and Stratified Random Sampling in Broadcast News Content Analysis" (paper presented at the annual meeting of AEJMC, Atlanta, 1994).
43. Stephen Lacy, Kay Robinson, and Daniel Riffe, "Sample Size in Content Analysis of Weekly Newspapers," Journalism Quarterly 72 (summer 1995): 336-45; and Daniel Riffe, Jason Nagovan, Stephen Lacy, and Larry Burkum, "The Effectiveness of Simple and Stratified Random Sampling in Broadcast News Content Analysis" (paper presented at the annual meeting of AEJMC, Atlanta, 1994).
44. David H. Weaver and G. Cleveland Wilhoit, "News Magazine Visibility of Senators," Journalism Quarterly 51 (spring 1974): 67-72.
45. Charles Mayo and Yorgo Pasadeos, "Changes in the International Focus of U.S. Business Magazines, 1964-1988," Journalism Quarterly 68 (autumn 1991): 509-14.
46. Oscar Patterson III, "Television's Living Room War in Print: Vietnam in the News Magazines," Journalism Quarterly 61 (spring 1984): 35-39,136.
47. K. Tim Wulfemeyer, "How and Why Anonymous Attribution is Used by Time and Newsweek," Journalism Quarterly 62 (spring 1985): 81-86,126.
48. Patricia A. Stout, Gary B. Wilcox, and Lorrie S. Greer, "Trends in Magazine Advertorial Use," Journalism Quarterly 66 (winter 1989): 960-64.
49. Linly Chou, George R. Franke, and Gary B. Wilcox, "The Information Content of Comparative Magazine Ads: A Longitudinal Analysis "Journalism Quarterly 64 (spring 1987): 119-24, 250.
50. James B. Lemert and Marguerite Gemson Ashman, "Extent of Mobilizing Information in Opinion and News Magazines," Journalism Quarterly 60 (winter 1983): 657-62.
51. The year 1990 was a leap year, and there were actually fifty-three issues published. The first issue, however, was a "year-in-review" special on 1989. Its exclusion permitted us to stay with the fifty-two-issues-per-year concept, and to eliminate the effect of an atypical outlier issue. However, as discussed in the text and in note 32,1990's own year-in-review issue exerted a major impact on the results of our sampling.
52. Lacy, Robinson, and Riffe, "Sample Size in Content Analysis of Weekly Newspapers."
53. We use the CV to standardize the amount of dispersion in the five variables, making comparisons among the variables possible. But according to Blalock, CV is most often associated with between-groMp comparisons that center on how homogeneous the groups are, and not on the different group means. "It therefore might be somewhat misleading to compare the absolute magnitudes of the standard deviations." Instead, one should focus on "the size of the standard deviation relative to that of the mean" (emphasis in original). Hubert M. Blalock Jr., Social Statistics, 2d ed. (NY: McGraw-Hill, 1979), 84. What constitutes a "high" CV is a question Blalock leaves unanswered. However, in their study of television news sampling, Riffe et al. pointed out that their otherwise optimal, efficient stratified sampling technique failed (in termsof Central Limits predictions) when variables with CVs of .843 and 1.18 were used. Based on that outcome, and multiple analyses conducted for this and other sampling studies, we offer the caveat that whenever CVs exceed .5, researchers might begin to look carefully at their results. See Riffe, Nagovan, Lacy, and Burkum, "The Effectiveness of Simple and Stratified Random Sampling in Broadcast News Content Analysis."
54. We use the CV to standardize the amount of dispersion in the five variables, making comparisons among the variables possible. But according to Blalock, CV is most often associated with between-groMp comparisons that center on how homogeneous the groups are, and not on the different group means. "It therefore might be somewhat misleading to compare the absolute magnitudes of the standard deviations." Instead, one should focus on "the size of the standard deviation relative to that of the mean" (emphasis in original). Hubert M. Blalock Jr., Social Statistics, 2d ed. (NY: McGraw-Hill, 1979), 84. What constitutes a "high" CV is a question Blalock leaves unanswered. However, in their study of television news sampling, Riffe et al. pointed out that their otherwise optimal, efficient stratified sampling technique failed (in termsof Central Limits predictions) when variables with CVs of .843 and 1.18 were used. Based on that outcome, and multiple analyses conducted for this and other sampling studies, we offer the caveat that whenever CVs exceed .5, researchers might begin to look carefully at their results. See Riffe, Nagovan, Lacy, and Burkum, "The Effectiveness of Simple and Stratified Random Sampling in Broadcast News Content Analysis."
55. Consider that the population parameter for photos was approximately 93 photos, with monthly means between January and November ranging from 77 to 104. The monthly mean for December was 109. By contrast, the January-November monthly means ranged from 48 to 60 on total stories and the annual parameter was 51.5. The December monthly mean was only 45.
56. See note 31, supra.