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Giving Labor the Business?

Changes in Business and Labor Reporting from 1980 to 2000

Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana

Larry M. Wright

Washington State Mentoring Partnership, Issaquah, lwright{at}washingtonmentoring.org

This study empirically examines the extent to which business journalism has taken over labor reporting between 1980 and 2000. The authors conduct a content analysis of The New York Times , The Washington Post, and Associated Press during this time frame. Our results note a widening gap between labor and business coverage dramatically in favor of business-oriented journalism. Business journalists now cover labor issues. Qualitative and quantitative changes in coverage are discussed, as well as the implications from these trends. The authors suggest that labor groups invest in more media and/or public relations to better convey their messages.

Key Words: political economy • labor • communication • business reporting • critical communication

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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Park, D. J. Articles by Wright, L. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?