Publication Date

1987

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Walker, Albert, 1920-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Journalism

LCSH

Referendum--Illinois--De Kalb; Schools--Public relations; Education--Illinois--De Kalb--Finance

Abstract

The issue of schools and tax rate increases as outlined in this study is an important issue facing communities throughout the country, not just in Illinois. This topic was selected because there seemed to be a need to educate school boards on ways to conduct successful referendum campaigns. In this report, communication, used heavily during one referendum and periodically during the other period, became the focus when it became apparent that the success of the tax rate increase was directly related to the amounts of communication presented to the community. The communication outlined in this study shows the amount of information presented to the voters from the time the tax increases were first discussed at a public school board meeting, until the day of the election. Literature presented in this report is actual material that was circulated to DeKalb voters. Research showed that there was an increase in communication during the successful referendum period. Some increases however, such as the number of bumper stickers, buttons and yard signs, were not measurable. Additionally, the study gives a report of how the two campaigns were conducted, outlines the results of the two campaigns, and measures the total amounts of communication presented during the two periods. A summary of the communication and of the study, with recommendations for additional studies, is also included in this thesis.

Comments

Bibliography: pages [61]-63.

Extent

viii, 139 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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