Publication Date

1983

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Walker, Albert, 1920-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Journalism

LCSH

Du Bois; W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt); 1868-1963; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Abstract

The thesis is a content analysis of The Crisis magazine, the official publication of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1955 to 1979. Ten categories were selected for the study: Economics, Education, Protest, Cultural/Social, Race, Government, NAACP Policy, Religion, History, and International. The motivation behind the study was to determine whether the magazine editorial policy during the period of 1955 to 1979 differed from the years when W.E.B. DuBois was editor. DuBois was editor of the magazine from its introduction in 1910 until 1934. Often during that period DuBois and the board of directors of the NAACP were at odds because the magazine's content differed from NAACP policy. To insure an equal representation, the 25-year period was divided into five sections: 1955-1959, 1960-1964, 1965-1969, 1970-1974, and 1975-1979. From that point, each issue in the various categories was given a number 01 through 50 and selected by using a table of random numbers. Articles and editorials selected for the study were placed in one of the ten categories chosen. Three assumptions were made about the content of the magazine prior to the study: 1. Unlike the period following DuBois1 editorship, the content of the later issues of the magazine closely reflected the policies and beliefs of the organization. 2. The Crisis, more so than during the DuBois years, was written to appease the black middle class or the Black Bourgeoisie. 3. The organization, through the magazine, tried to separate itself from the views of more militant organizations. After studying the samples selected from the magazine issues, it was determined that the editorial content was consistent with NAACP policy. Whenever possible, the content in The Crisis stressed the theory of a "single society," in which persons of all races could live together in harmony.

Comments

Bibliography: leaf 106.

Extent

117 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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