Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Cunningham

Second Advisor

Dr. Michael Hazel

Third Advisor

Dr. Giovanni Caputo

Abstract

This study examines how U.S. Millennials view information reported by traditional and social media using Christians and Fackler’s (1993) communitarian ethics and Entman’s (1989) ideas on media “frame analysis” as a foundation for analysis. For the purposes of this study, Islamic State – a radical extremist organization rooted in the Middle East – is widely reported on both platforms and is used as a focal point for the study’s purposes. U.S. Millennials who participated in this study address their concerns with how information is reported in today’s 24/7 news coverage and constant outreach from organizations that report on world events. This study highlights a modern trend for U.S. Millennials who must discern what is true and what is not when it comes to reports they come across on the internet, radio, television, and newspapers. This study also highlights varying degrees of how U.S. Millennials are affected when confronted by constant, and sometimes, excessive information found in today’s communications tools as organizations compete for their attention in today’s information landscape.

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