Sex! Aliens! Harvard? Rhetorical boundary-work in the media (a case study of the role of journalists in the social construction of scientific authority)

Thesis (PhD) - Indiana University, Journalism, 2005With science and the media playing prominent roles in contemporary life, it is important to understand the cultural authority of science and the role of the media in maintaining this authority. This paper will report on a case study of journalists' participation in the social construction of scientific authority. The case involves print media coverage of controversial scientific research conducted by a tenured professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a well-known authority in his field. When this elite scientist embarked upon the study of people who believe they have been abducted by aliens he drew fire for stepping outside the boundaries of "real" science, despite his stellar credentials and long history of accomplishment. Much of this fire took place on the field of the mass media. The boundaries of science and scientific authority were tested in this case, and journalists played a role in the boundary-work. Employing the sensitizing concept of boundary-work to guide analysis of media content, this case study explores how journalists constructed scientific authority in their coverage of Mack's abduction research, and to what ends, and how scientific and journalistic norms operate in media coverage of science. Rhetoric is a primary tool for constructing social reality, and the rhetoric of science is a key source -- for the purposes of this study, arguably the sole source -- of the cultural authority of science. Burke's dramatistic criticism is thus employed as a primary analytic tool in this study, to excavate the landscape of symbolic communication. The aim of this study is to illuminate ambiguity, complexity, motives and meanings in this case. It is intended to be thought provoking, instructive, and productive, to enrich the ongoing examination of the cultural roles of science and journalism

Movie poster advertisements: A relevance theory persepctive

The purpose of this thesis is to examine ten movie posters while hypothesizing whether or not their tagline texts could interest a reader. A linguistic framework Relevance Theory, is used in the analysis of this project

The Cryptid Tourist Gaze: Cryptid Tourism and the Performance of Monster-Hunting

The Cryptid Tourist Gaze: Cryptid Tourism and the Performance of Monster-Hunting examines different modes of monster-hunting and argues that the ways of hunting for monsters has evolved from major expeditions to cryptid tourism. I devised an original term called the Cryptid Tourist Gaze in order to analyze these different monster-hunting modes. The Cryptid Tourist Gaze is an individual\u27s perspective of and experience with a cryptid monster and reflects how an individual perceives and presents cryptid monsters and cryptid monster experiences. I suggest that individuals now perform monster-hunting through documentary media consumption, festival attendance, and museum curation and visitation, which are all forms of cryptid tourism. I refer to monster-hunting as the act of how an individual or community looks at, lives with, and searches for unexplained, unknown, or unnatural creatures, beasts, and animals and the Cryptid Tourist Gaze is a means by which those acts are performed. This Gaze informs their constructed consciousness of the phenomena of monster sightings and determines the structured reality of their experience of cryptid tourism. Thinking about how these cryptid monsters are presented and represented can lead us to a conversation about why people go looking for these cryptid monsters and how the belief in their existence is perpetuated. The Cryptid Tourist Gaze is a multifaceted concept that I believe sheds new light on monster-hunting and cryptid tourism. Cryptozoological research could lead to one of the most exciting discoveries in history. One of the ways we get closer to that discovery is through cryptid tourism and the performance of cryptid monster-hunting

Religioossus kui kultuuriline tööriistakast: Eesti uue vaimsuse analüüs

Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsioone.Üha suurem osa religioossetest nähtustest jääb Lääne sekulaarsetes ühiskondades väljapoole institutsionaalseid religioone. Enamik Eestis levinud religioosseid või vaimseid uskumusi ja praktikaid ei kuulu otseselt ühegi religiooni alla – neid toetab New Age’i subkultuurist välja kasvanud uue vaimsuse keskkond. Et taoliste õpetuste järgmine ei eelda püsivat kuulumist kogudusse või gruppi ning õpetused ise hõlmavad väga erinevaid valdkondi, on uut vaimsust väga keeruline määratleda või analüüsida lähtudes tavapärastest religiooni indikaatoritest nagu uskumused, kuuluvus ja religioossed praktikad. Doktoritöös vaatlen uue vaimsuse keskkonda eelkõige kui üht allikat, mis pakub erinevaid kultuurilisi tööriistu nii maailma mõtestamiseks kui ka konkreetsete probleemide nagu haiguse või töökaotuse puhul abi ja toetuse saamiseks. Taolised kultuurilised tööriistad võivad olla nii abstraktsemad väärtused, tähendused (sh ka eksistentsiaalse maailmakorralduse kohta) aga ka näiteks spetsiifilised tehnikad või rituaalid näiteks „rahaõnne“ kasvatamiseks või „aja maha võtmiseks“. Uue vaimsuse keskkonnas osalemine ei pea olema järjepidev, õpetusi kasutatakse vajaduse tekkimisel. Uue vaimsuse tegeliku ühiskondliku ja kultuurilise tähenduse tabamiseks tuleb analüüsi kaasata ka neid, kel on ehk vaid mõningad (latentsed) uskumused ning üleüldine valmisolek õpetuste poole pöörduda. Töös pakun välja mudeli, mis kaardistab inimeste valmisolekut või kalduvust uue vaimsuse keskkonnast pärit lahendusi kasutada. Õpetuste järgima hakkamine ei ole instrumentaalne tarbimine, kus otsus langetatakse puhtalt näiteks hinna vm „toote omaduste“ alusel. Uue vaimsuse keskkonnas peetakse kõige olulisemaks isiklikku kogemust, mis kinnitab igaühele personaalselt õpetuse tõeväärtuse ja toimivuse. Olulist rolli mängib siiski ka laiem tähenduslik foon, mis loob valmisoleku ning tekitab „tõelisuse aura“, mis paneb inimesi vaimseid lahendusi ja tehnikaid piisavalt usaldama, et neid ise järele proovida. Uus vaimsus levib peamiselt interneti, meedia, raamatute toel. Taoliste levikukanalite efektiivsus näitab, et tavaline kasutajakogemus on (virtuaalsete) võrgustike toel muutunud üha olulisemaks õpetuste kandjaks ja neile usaldusväärsuse loojaks. Individuaalseid valikuid tähtsustava religioossuse kandjana on mitteformaalsed võrgustikud traditsioonilistest institutsioonidest (nagu kirik) isegi efektiivsemad.Under the umbrella of New Age-based spirituality, a series of fuzzy and disguised forms of contemporary religious phenomena are grouped. This dissertation traces how the Estonian spiritual “milieu” functions as a source of cultural tools (namely, spiritual knowledge or practices). Given the situational and low-intensity involvement of new spirituality practitioners, concepts such as belief(s) or belonging, commonly used in the study of religions, are inadequate to grasp the full scope of new spirituality. Based on their previous experiences, knowledge, and social contacts people position themselves differently in relation to spiritual tools and values. Inclination to new spirituality indicates the potential willingness of a person to use a spiritual “toolkit” and therefore characterizes the person’s mental disposition towards using spiritual solutions. For example, people who have some (generally latent) beliefs in spiritual phenomena and a theoretical willingness to try spiritual solutions could be described as weakly inclined – which is likely the most common position for Estonians. Using spiritual tools (teachings, practices) requires some degree of practical and attitudinal preparedness and initial willingness to start applying the solutions that the spiritual milieu offers. Turning to spiritual/religious solutions and becoming involved in new spirituality is a multi-layered process involving finding general credibility and then seeking individual confirmations through personal (often bodily) experiences. In the context of weak primary socialization into religions and the presence of hostile public representations, this support is provided by spiritual events or by personal or mediated guidance (internet pages, books, consultations). As informal networks play an increasingly prominent role in disseminating spirituality, the categories of “dominant” and “vernacular” religion are losing their relevance. Religious participation is based on new types of institutions – network based and less centrally organized but still structured by implicit internal rules, normativity and power relations. The lines between “soft” and “hard” or “alternative” and “dominant” are blurred; commonly, the informal networks have a stronger impact on people’s beliefs and behaviours than religious institutions such as churches

Viability of free newspapers in the Kenyan market: a case of The People Daily

This study sought to establish the viability of free newspapers in the Kenyan market, using the case of The People Daily. The research objectives of this study were: (i) to establish the management strategy behind The People Daily’s conversion into a free newspaper; (ii) to determine the relationship between advertising revenue and The People Daily’s viability as a news media outlet; (iii) to assess financial sustainability of The People Daily as a free newspaper; and (iv) to establish the quality control measures that The People Daily has put in place to promote quality journalism. This study was based on the Media Economics Theory and it adopted mixed method research approach and a descriptive research design that targeted 70 journalists at The People Daily newspaper. Data was collected through a survey questionnaire and six senior managers were interviewed for key information on The People Daily strategies that informed the conversion to a free newspaper. The researcher pre-tested the tools with a group of journalists from Standard Media group. Quantitative data collected was cleaned and analysed using IBM’s SPSS version 22 and presented in form of tables, pie charts and graphs. Qualitative data was transcribed, coded for patterns and emergent themes presented in narrative format to corroborate the quantitative data with the relevant quotes to buttress the emergent themes. Findings indicated that the conversion of The People Daily to a free newspaper has given it a competitive edge by boosting circulation and attracting advertisers who have been the mainstay of the newspaper’s revenue base. Further, the newspaper is generally financially sustainable and has put in place measures to produce quality content. The study also established that the conversion of The People Daily into a free newspaper was based on two key strategies: the need to create a competitive advantage in the market and remain afloat, and second, to boost the revenue that the newspaper generates. The study established that while advertising revenue makes The People Daily viable, being part of a conglomerate disadvantages the newspaper as part of its advertising revenues is channeled to other outlets, especially the conglomerate’s TV station K24. To ensure sustainability and production of quality content, the researcher recommends that a huge percentage of resources generated by the free newspaper be ploughed back into newsroom to strengthen operations and boost staff morale

An Adventist Missiological Response to Traditional Beliefs in Kenya

Problem Seventh-day Adventist Christians in Kenya struggle to practice pure biblical teaching because many still practice African traditional beliefs. Many traditional beliefs are inconsistent with biblical teachings. This problem has contributed to syncretism that has weakened the Adventist message in Kenya. Many of the church members follow traditional beliefs because they fear to be condemned by members in society. The traditional belief that says a dead person continues to live and can communicate with the family is still strongly supported by many people in Kenya. This traditional belief contradicts biblical teaching concerning the dead. Other traditional issues church members struggle with that are in conflict with biblical teachings deal with widow and widowers’ issues, witchcraft and magic, demonization and how to deal with it, polygamy, genital mutilation, and several others. These African traditional beliefs have not been adequately addressed by the Adventist Church in Kenya. The problem has existed in the Church for decades and should be addressed because it contradicts biblical teachings and Adventist fundamental beliefs. Method This study looked at the background and practices of several African traditional beliefs. Books, journals, articles, and dissertations from the James White library helped the researcher understand African traditional beliefs in the Kenyan context. An Adventist biblical response to the issues of witchcraft, funeral rites, wife-inheritance, death rituals, and demonization was developed. A critical contextualization process was suggested so that people are involved in discussing the issues and dealing with them in biblical ways. This approach empowers church members to deal biblically with challenges traditional beliefs pose. Results The interviews conducted in Kenya indicated that a number of the Kenyan Seventh-day Adventists still believe and practice African traditional beliefs. Many reasons for this problem include the fact that the people’s worldview was not impacted by biblical thought, failure by missionaries to address the traditional beliefs of the people, fear of taboos caused by the spirits of the dead, and failure to openly discuss traditional issues. An analysis of the traditional beliefs on the state of the dead, death rituals, widowhood and wife inheritance, soul and spirit, witchcraft, and demonization indicate that Adventists need much biblical study concerning the dead. Biblical views of soul and spirit based on Gen 2:7 and Gen 2:21-22 do not support the traditional belief that a soul continues to live after death. While some traditional beliefs were consistent with biblical teachings, there were some which were found to be inconsistent. Conclusion The gospel the church proclaims is about repentance and new birth in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:17; John 3:3) Jesus promised his followers the power of the Holy Spirit before they could become his witnesses (Acts 1:8-9). The new birth experience should result in believers following Jesus instead of these traditional practices which are opposed to biblical teaching. Kenyan Adventists should be educated to understand the meaning of being a true disciple of Christ Jesus, and as such should not practice biblical and traditional beliefs at the same time. Such syncretism has weakened the position of the church to evangelize the Kenyan people. Therefore, there is an urgent need for church leaders to educate members on how to deal with traditional issues

The Responsibility of Christian Female Influencers: A Biblical Response to Progressive Christianity

Many Christian female influencers have large followings of Christian women, although many influential Bible study authors, teachers, motivational speakers, musicians, worship leaders, social media, and online influencers may not be instructing Christian women in the core beliefs of Christianity. As a result, many Christian women are not defending the Christian faith, but are rejecting core Christian beliefs and are identifying with the diverse beliefs of progressive Christianity. Christian women who have embraced progressive Christianity are therefore no longer worshipers of the God of the Bible but are idolaters who practice the progressive ideologies of relativism, pluralism, and cultural tolerance. In order to guide Christian women into true worship, it is necessary that influencers of Christian women clearly articulate biblical truth. This qualitative historical research will identify core Christian beliefs that refute the primary ideologies of progressive Christianity. Through exploration of existing literature, perspectives on regeneration, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ in salvation, biblical authority, and evangelism have emerged as primary Christian beliefs that refute dominating progressive beliefs. The study will inform Christian women, and their influencers, of the tenets of foundational biblical beliefs, and warn Christian women of the dangers of progressive Christianity