Use of narrative style in broadcast news

Professional project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Journalism from the School of Journalism, University of Missouri--Columbia.This research examines how reporters and photographers can use narrative style in daily news stories and in long-form investigative and feature pieces. It also addresses the objectivity of the story style. This research was conducted through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 11 recognized storytellers. Research participants said total objectivity is unattainable in any story style because of a journalist's own biases and worldly experiences. However, data analysis showed there is a divide between respondents about using narrative style for story topics that are controversial or political. There was a link here with research question one. Respondents who said the narrative style could be used everyday for every story topic, also said the narrative is just as objective, if not more objective than the inverted pyramid style. Respondents, who said's hard to use the narrative everyday because it shouldn't be used for every story topic, also said the narrative opens the door to less objectivity. Because television viewership is changing, some stations are turning to narrative style to better engage viewers, because of this, it is important to better understand how to use the style and whether or not the style is believed to be objective.Includes bibliographic references

DEVELOPMENTAL AND FAMILY-LEVEL DETERMINANTS OF SIBLING ADJUSTMENT TO CHILDHOOD CANCER

Each year, 14,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States (Howlader et al., 2012). Significant biomedical advances have led to survival rates exceeding 80% (Jemal, et al., 2008). However, prolonged, complicated, and intensive treatment regimens often challenge and disrupt the entire family system, with effects extending to siblings. The present study examined the role of family risk factors in predicting distress among 209 siblings (ages 8-18) of children with cancer. Findings showed that greater sibling distress is independently associated with higher levels of sibling-reported problems with family functioning and parental psychological control, lower levels of sibling-reported maternal acceptance, and lower levels of paternal self-reported acceptance, with a similar trend for higher levels of parental posttraumatic stress. When examined as a function of sibling age, findings indicated that effects of sibling-reported maternal psychological control on sibling distress are stronger for older siblings, while effects of mother-reported problems with family roles on sibling distress are stronger for younger siblings. When the family risk factors were considered in combination, results supported a quadratic model in which the association between family risk and sibling distress was stronger at higher levels of cumulative family risk. Finally, hypotheses that a more positive family environment would buffer the negative influence of parent PTSS on sibling distress were largely unsupported. Together, findings support a family systems model of sibling adjustment to a brother’s or sister’s cancer diagnosis in which elevated sibling distress is predicted by higher levels of family risk factors, alone and in combination

Assessment of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) Technology at the MSFC ECLS Test Facility

The Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia. Removal (VPCAR) technology has been previously discussed as a viable option for. the Exploration Water Recovery System. This technology integrates a phase change process with catalytic oxidation in the vapor phase to produce potable water from exploration mission wastewaters. A developmental prototype VPCAR was designed, built and tested under funding provided by a National Research. Announcement (NRA) project. The core technology, a Wiped Film Rotating Device (WFRD) was provided by Water Reuse Technologies under the NRA, whereas Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International performed the hardware integration and acceptance test. of the system. Personnel at the-Ames Research Center performed initial systems test of the VPCAR using ersatz solutions. To assess the viability of this hardware for Exploration. Life Support (ELS) applications, the hardware has been modified and tested at the MSFC ECLS Test facility. This paper summarizes the hardware modifications and test results and provides an assessment of this technology for the ELS application

SIBLINGS OF PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS: STRESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES

Each year, 12,500 pediatric cancer cases are diagnosed in the U.S. Although a majority survives these illnesses, challenges associated with prolonged, intensive treatment periods disrupt the entire family system, and effects on siblings are poorly understood. We have employed a developmentally-sensitive, transactional stress framework to study adjustment in 20 adolescent siblings (ages 10-17) of children undergoing cancer treatment. We aimed to (1) determine if contextual threat and treatment intensity are associated with sibling distress, as measured by perceived and posttraumatic stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression; (2) identify factors that may moderate these relationships; (3) understand the nature of sibling stress using qualitative data; and (4) compare adjustment between younger and older adolescent siblings. Qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured interview consisting of open-ended questions and probes about contextual details of the cancer experience. Qualitative findings fell into three broad categories consistent with the transactional theory of stress: (1) uncertainty regarding diagnosis, prognosis, and family changes; (2) loss of normalcy; and (3) cancer as a serious, adult illness. Quantitative analyses revealed positive associations between contextual threat and depression, anxiety, and perceived stress scores; and between treatment intensity and anxiety scores. In terms of potential moderators, older siblings endorsed more symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress than younger siblings, and siblings younger than the child with cancer endorsed more symptoms of depression and higher levels of perceived and posttraumatic stress than siblings older than the child with cancer. Overall, results suggest that contextual threat is a promising approach to predicting sibling distress and that sibling adjustment can be conceptualized using a transactional stress framework

When Operating on Dead People Saves Lives: Benefits of Surgical Organ Donor Intensivists

Solid organ transplantation has emerged as a life-saving treatment for many patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. Organs have been successfully recovered after a variety of aggressive interventions. We propose that decompressive laparotomy, when clinically indicated, should be considered in the aggressive resuscitation of potential organ donors. A thorough literature review examining aggressive interventions on potential organ donors was conducted after experience with a unique case at this institution. Articles were reviewed for the types of interventions performed as well as the time frame in relation to organ donation. In our case, several ethical issues were raised when considering decompressive laparotomy in a patient pronounced dead by neurologic criteria. We propose that having a surgical intensivist involved in the management of potential donors will further increase the salvage rate, as more invasive resuscitation options are possible

When Operating on Dead People Saves Lives: Benefits of Surgical Organ Donor Intensivists

Solid organ transplantation has emerged as a life-saving treatment for many patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. Organs have been successfully recovered after a variety of aggressive interventions. We propose that decompressive laparotomy, when clinically indicated, should be considered in the aggressive resuscitation of potential organ donors. A thorough literature review examining aggressive interventions on potential organ donors was conducted after experience with a unique case at this institution. Articles were reviewed for the types of interventions performed as well as the time frame in relation to organ donation. In our case, several ethical issues were raised when considering decompressive laparotomy in a patient pronounced dead by neurologic criteria. We propose that having a surgical intensivist involved in the management of potential donors will further increase the salvage rate, as more invasive resuscitation options are possible

Cystic Multiglandular Maternal Hyperparathyroidism Diagnosed by Neonatal Hypocalcemic Seizures

A 7-day-old male infant born to a healthy 33-year-old female at 37 weeks of gestation was brought to the local emergency department (ED) with sudden-onset tonic-clonic seizures. Laboratory testing revealed extreme hypocalcemia (ionized calcium of 3.2 mg/dl) and undetectable parathyroid hormone (PTH/ml). Concomitant evaluation of the mother revealed both elevated ionized calcium (5.9 mg/dl) and PTH (116 pg/ml). The mother underwent preoperative ultrasound localization and sestamibi scan, followed promptly by parathyroidectomy. Given the cystic appearance and presence of multiglandular disease, evaluation for familial cystic parathyroid adenomatosis (hyperparathyroidism-jaw bone-tumor syndrome) and MEN 1 were undertaken. The infant was stabilized and discharged home. He returned to the ED with seizures at 1 month of age. After increasing calcium supplementation appropriately, he was monitored with weekly office visits. This represents a unique case of undiagnosed maternal primary hyperparathyroidism manifesting with intrauterine parathyroid suppression and hypocalcemic seizures in the newborn