(Organized by Hypothesis Cluster)

The results of community structure studies by Pollock and colleagues have shown that several community characteristics are linked to the direction of reporting on health communication issues. Six major patterns emerge:

Protection Hypothesis:

The larger the proportion of a community's economic interests with a stake in an issue, the more likely coverage will favor those interests.

Pollock, J., Stillman, F. & Yulis, S. (2002, July). Nationwide newspaper "framing" of the Supreme Court decision on FDA tobacco regulation: Testing a content analysis surveillance tool. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, Seoul, South Korea.* (*- Coauthored with professional colleagues)

Buffer Hypothesis:

The larger the proportion of privileged groups in a community, the more favorable the coverage of those making human rights claims. (Privilege is defined as proportion of those with college educations, family incomes of $100,000 or more, or professional/technical occupational status.)

Gratale, D., Steer, C., & Pollock, J, et. al. (2002, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of embryonic stem cell research: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of National Communication Association, New Orleans.

Pollock, J.C., Dudzak, M., Richards, K., Norton, S., & Miller, R. (2000, June). Nationwide newspaper coverage of human cloning: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, Acapulco, Mexico.

Pollock, J.C., Morris H., Citarella, R., Ryan, M., & Yulis, S. (1999, November). The Louise Woodward "British Nanny" trial: Nationwide newspaper coverage of the Eappens, a community stakeholder approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Chicago.


Violated Buffer Hypothesis:

The larger the proportion of privileged groups in a community, the more unfavorable the coverage of biological threats or threats to a cherished way of life. (Privilege is defined as proportion of those with college educations, family incomes of $100,000 or more, or professional/technical occupational status.)

Caamano, A., Virgilio, M., Lindstrom, A., & Pollock, J. (2001, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of FDA regulation of tobacco: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Atlanta.

Pollock, J., Shellenberger, J. et. al., (2001, May). Nationwide newspaper coverage of gun control since Columbine: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, DC.

Pollock, J.C., Miller, M., Caldwell, K. (2001, May). Nationwide newspaper coverage of the tobacco industry's Master Settlement Agreement: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, D.C.

Pollock, J.C., Nisi, V., et. al. (1999, May). Nationwide newspaper coverage of efforts to ban tobacco advertising toward children: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, San Francisco.

Pollock, J.C., Awrachow, M.J., & Kuntz, William. (1994, July)). Comparing city characteristics and newspaper coverage of the Magic Johnson HIV announcement: An Archival Approach. Paper accepted for presentation for the Health Communication Division, International Communication Association, Sydney, Australia.

Access: Media
Newspaper Circulation

The larger the newspaper circulation in a community, the more favorable the coverage of those making human rights claims.

Pollock, J.C., McNeil, K., Pizzatello, L, & Hall, G. (1996, May). Comparing city characteristics and newspaper coverage of Ryan White: A community structure approach. Paper presented to the Health Communication Division at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Chicago, IL.

FM Radio

The larger the number of FM stations in a community, the more favorable the coverage of those making human rights claims

Pollock, J.C. & Yulis, S. (1999, May). Comparing city characteristics and newspaper coverage of physician-assisted suicide: a community structure approach. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, San Francisco.

AM Radio

The larger the number of AM stations in a community, the more unfavorable the coverage of those making human rights claims

Warboys, K., Edwards, E., Cooper, M., & Pollock, J. (2001, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of the Master Settlement Agreement: The role of AM radio. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Atlanta.

Pollock, J.C., Castillo, A., Solomon, A., & Griffiths, K. (2000, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of the patient's bill of rights: a community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual convention of the National Communication Association, Seattle.

Pollock, J.C., McNeil, K., Pizzatello, L, & Hall, G. (1996, May). Comparing city characteristics and newspaper coverage of Ryan White: A community structure approach. Paper presented to the Health Communication Division at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Chicago, IL.

Access: Health Care:

The larger the number of physicians per 100,000 or hospital beds per 10,000 in a community, the more favorable the coverage of those making human rights claims.

Gratale, D., Steer, C., & Pollock, J, et. al. (2002, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of embryonic stem cell research: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of National Communication Association, New Orleans

Pollock, J.C. & Yulis, S. (1999, May). Comparing city characteristics and newspaper coverage of physician-assisted suicide: a community structure approach. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, San Francisco.

Vulnerability or Unbuffered ("Guardian") Hypothesis:

The larger the percentage of unemployed or living below the poverty level in a community, the more favorable the coverage of those making human rights claims.

Pollock, J.C., Miller, M., Caldwell, K. (2001, May). Nationwide newspaper coverage of the Tobacco Industry's Master Settlement Agreement: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, D.C.

Pollock, J., Shellenberger, J. et. al., (2001, May). Nationwide newspaper coverage of gun control since Columbine: A community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, DC.

Pollock, J.C., Castillo, A., Solomon, A., & Griffiths, K. (2000). Nationwide newspaper coverage of the patient's bill of rights: a community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual convention of the National Communication Association, November, 2000, Seattle.

Pollock, J.C., & Robinson, J.L. (1977 November/December). Reporting rights conflicts. Society, 13 (1), 44-47.

Pollock, J.C., Robinson, J. L., & Murray, M. C. (1978, Fall). Media agendas and human rights: The Supreme Court decision on abortion. Journalism Quarterly, 55 (3) 545-548, 561.

Stakeholders
Lifecyle Position

The larger the percentage of a generation's cohorts or families with children at risk for a specific issue in a community, the more coverage will reflect the interests of that generation or families with children at risk.

Geiman, E., Johnson, K., Riddell, M., & Pollock, J. (2001, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of gun control since Columbine: The role of position in the family lifecycle. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Atlanta.

Senior Citizens (75+)

The larger the percentage of a senior citizens in a community, the more coverage will reflect the interests of that age cohort.

Pollock, J.C. & Yulis, S. (1999, May). Comparing city characteristics and newspaper coverage of physician-assisted suicide: a community structure approach. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, San Francisco.

Pollock, J. C., Coughlin, J., Thomas, J. & Connaughton, T. (1996, Summer/Fall). Comparing city characteristics and nationwide newspaper coverage of Dr. Jack Kevorkian: An archival approach. Newspaper Research Journal, 17(3/4), 120-133.

Political Partisanship

The larger the percentage of a citizens voting Democratic or Republican in the last presidential election, the more coverage will reflect the positions of those two political parties on social, political or economic interests.

Geiman, E., Johnson, K., Riddell, M., & Pollock, J. (2001, November). Nationwide newspaper coverage of gun control since Columbine: The role of position in the family lifecycle. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Atlanta.

Pollock, J.C., Castillo, A., Solomon, A., & Griffiths, K. (2000). Nationwide newspaper coverage of the patient's bill of rights: a community structure approach. Paper presented at the annual convention of the National Communication Association, November, 2000, Seattle.