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An op-ed piece
by School of Communications faculty member Connie Book was carried
in the April 18 Ideas section of the Greensboro News & Record.
In the piece, "Truth About Catholicism Hidden Under Media Veil,"
Book explains agenda setting, framing and salience while making
the point that news coverage of priests accused of sex crimes is
veiling the good being done by many priests in the church.
An excerpt
of the column:
"As a
professor of media studies, my students spend time discussing the
media's ability to frame events for the reader. Framing theory moves
the agenda-setting function of the press one step further by arguing
that the stories selected, through repetition, create salience.
Salient stories are deeply rooted in readers/viewers perceptions,
and it is from these perceptions that stereotypes are developed
...
"The veil
is not a conscious cover-up by the media, but the veil happens because
little coverage is afforded to the typical news about the way we
live our lives. Recent coverage of the atypical Catholic priests
involved in criminal activity has resulted in a negative frame for
the priesthood. The negative frame viewls the typical, which is
that the vast majority of priests dedicate their lives to helping
others."
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