Date Approved

10-12-2006

Embargo Period

3-31-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Public Relations

Department

Public Relations & Advertising

College

Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts

Advisor

Basso, Joseph

Subject(s)

Mass media and public opinion; Sports--Public relations

Disciplines

Public Relations and Advertising

Abstract

The influential power that media channels have directly affects the development of public opinion when it comes to the National Football League, its players and subsequent on or off the field incidents.

The purpose of this study was to show how public opinion of the NFL is driven by different demographic information and by how fans get their news concerning the NFL and its subsequent adverse news. This study will attempt to show how age and media source can affect the development of public opinion, how public opinion is formed and potential variables that may influence opinion formation.

The researcher performed a non-scientific pen and paper survey of fifty individual males in the southern New Jersey area to determine their attitudes and opinions. Respondents were asked simple demographic and open ended questions and then asked the same questions again after providing an addendum of facts concerning each case in the survey. Responses to surveys were calculated using Microsoft Excel charting software and then displayed by demographic age group.

Resulting data indicates that media content or influence has little to no effect on the development of public opinion about the NFL, its teams or its players.

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