Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6034

Date

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Journalism

Committee Chair

Thomas Hrach

Committee Member

Robert Byrd

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine how saitrical television porgrams respond to tragedies in compariosn to traditional news progamming. The crisi chosen was the Pulse nightclug shooting that took place in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2015. Clips from satiricl and traditional news shows were examined to understand how the programs responded ot hte tragedy. In response to the attack, satiricl programs offered themes that differed from traditional news programs. Satirists explored the theme of sadness and frustration while journalists explored the facts and why the shooting otok place. Findings revealed that news programs priortized uncovering the facts while humorus programs focused on the emotional impact of the shooting. Satirical hosts asked htier audiences why these shootings continued ot happen and questioned what could be done to prevent another one. The findings also revealed that satirical and traditional news programs play different an dunique roles in responding to crises.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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