Date of Award
5-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Journalism
First Advisor
Dr. Bill Cassidy
Second Advisor
Dr. Marquita Smith
Third Advisor
Dr. Andrea Hickerson
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This study investigates the media framing of the May 24, 2022, shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by comparing the coverage of two national newspapers, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Using the spatial-temporal scheme provided by Chyi & McCombs (2004), this study conducted a quantitative content analysis of 241 samples from a month’s coverage of the event in the two newspapers. The study attempted to identify whether there was any difference in the use of spatial, temporal, and spatial-temporal combination frames between the two newspapers, and whether there were any significant frame-changing patterns in the coverage across three 10-day periods. Chi-Square Analysis revealed a significant difference between the two newspapers’ implementation of the spatial frame, as both newspapers predominantly used the societal frame, but The Washington Post used the Individual frame more, compared to The New York Times’ more utilization of the community frame. However, there was no such difference in terms of the usage of temporal frames, as the present frame was used significantly more compared to the other temporal frames. There were some differences in terms of the use of spatial-temporal combination frames; although, it was not statistically significant enough to conclude that there was a distinct difference between their utilization in the two newspapers whose samples were analyzed. There was also no significant spatial or temporal frame-changing over the 30 days, although there were some, which led to spatial-temporal combinations yielding results that there was no significant frame-changing output. This study contributes to the field of media research by employing empirical research methods and finding that two elite newspapers implemented different spatial frames during their coverage of this particular incident.
Recommended Citation
Rahman, S M Shams, "A Framing Analysis of The Uvalde School Shooting in Two National Newspapers" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8867.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/8867