Chap. 5–Media and Social Problems

This assignment is a more sophisticated version of the very first assignment–part of its rationale is to take stock of how your approach has changed or in appreciating the difference that some concepts can make for analysis.  

In this assignment, you will analyze the media coverage regarding a social problem of your choice.  This analysis depends on your application of concepts from chapter 5.  Select a social problem about which you are relatively sure you can find coverage from multiple media outlets—in fact, you'll need to find (at least) three. 

1. First, identify the primary and secondary claims associated with this social problem.  What does the secondary claim do in relation to the primary claim?  Does it simplify it, extend it into another context (e.g., it's not a moral problem, but rather a______ problem, or alter it in any other significant way?  If not, support that as well.   
   NOTE:  you can select a primary claim or master frame from, for example, a press release from activists, experts, a coalition of concerned citizens, or some other formal coverage of the proposed problem.  Make sure you check the book for the meaning of these terms/concepts.  The secondary claim can come from another media platform, for instance, a set of social media posts (twitter, IG) that garner a lot of attention.  Just make sure the secondary claims are based on the primary claims.  
2. Second, write out three to four sentences about what audience would be most impacted by the secondary claims you’ve identified for your chosen social problem.  You could differentiate by region, age, gender, or other demographic categories.  For example, would members of a younger generation, or perhaps of a certain socio-economic background, be more receptive to a claim delivered via one media source versus another?  Why?  Or would the claims be rejected more in one region versus another?
3. Perhaps the abundance of media sources, platforms, and primary/secondary claims does encourage massive fragmentation of the process of constructing social problems, such that it hinders understanding or significant change.  What would you suggest is a way of positively dealing with this potential hindrance?  If you don’t think it is a problem, briefly explain why.  

Worth 10 points

7 pts—address each question with sociological concepts from chap 5 or other chapters as appropriate.  

3 pts—grammar and punctuation 

Due Sunday, Sept 26, end of day.