Date of Award
1-1-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Specialization
Communication and Leadership
School or Department
School of Leadership Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Nobuya Inagaki
Abstract
This study investigated how news media communications affect public awareness and perceptions of the mental health concerns of post-deployed military of the recent Iraq war. Focus group research included 22 adult participants from the same geographic location with discussions on news media consumption behaviors and their perceptions of the mental health issues of veterans. Results revealed that news media consumption is preferred at a national level versus a local level, and that online news sources are utilized more frequently than television or print news sources. Participants with the least news media exposure admitted to the lowest awareness of veteran mental health issues, while participants with personal relationships to a military member offered higher awareness of the issue. Discussions of these finding related to the cultural studies of Stuart Hall and a foundation of Marxist media ideology ideas. This study concluded that news media exposure influences the awareness of veteran mental health, therefore affects the public perception of the topic.
Recommended Citation
Weber, Elizabeth Faye, "News Media Influence On Perceptions Of Veteran Mental Health" (2013). Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses. 243.
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/comlead_etds/243
Included in
Leadership Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons
Comments
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