Cox Center Research

Research

The Cox Center conducts research in support of its general mission of understanding and enhancing the performance of free and independent media systems around the world.

Active programs include:

	Research on the role of the media in democratization

	In 1998 and 1999, the Cox Center examined the impact of the Knight International Press Fellowship Program on journalists, media organizations, journalistic practice and nonmedia institutions in the societies served. Click here for details of the study's findings. In 2000 the Cox Center completed an evaluation for the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors of internal assessment programs used by BBG. Click here to read more about this project. In 2001 the Cox Center initiated a review of the existent literature in the social sciences that examine the role played by the mass media in the development of democracy.

	Research on how media organizations structure news coverage, with particular focus on the coverage of international news

	In 2004 researchers at the Cox Center released a paper on the strategic approaches that news organzations take in covering news and the impact on the story ideas that journalists generate and on the structures and techniques used to tell those stories. Click here to read this report. In 2000 a team of Cox Center researchers examined the factors that lead newspapers to use expertise in their coverage of international news. Click here to read about a preliminary report on this project. In 2001 an article by a team of Cox Center researchers reported on the use of newsroom beats as a means of structuring coverage of news. Click here to read more about this report.

	Research on copyright and its consequences

	Hampton Press in the United States and Dacia Press in Romania published a volume edited by Dr. Lee B. Becker and Dr. Tudor Vlad called Copyright and Consequences. Click here to read more about the book published by Hampton Press.

	Research on the U.S. labor market in journalism and mass communication

	The Annual Survey of Journalism & Mass Communication Enrollments and the Annual Survey of Journalism & Mass Communication Graduates and a series of companion surveys are housed in the Cox Center and used extensively in Cox Center programs. Click here to link to the web site for this research project. In 2002, Cox Center researchers confirmed a major assumption about hiring in the daily newspaper industry, namely that large daily newspapers hire few students directly from college, preferring to hire instead experienced journalists. Click here to download this paper. Hugh J. Martin, Lee B. Becker, and Tudor Vlad released a report on communication professionals and their attitudes on unions and workplace rights at the MAPOR Conference in 2002. Click here to download this paper.

	Research on the impact of midcareer training on the work of journalists

	In 2001 the Cox Center launched a study of the mid-career training programs funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Click here to read more about this project. In July 2002, Dr. Becker, Patrick McConnell, and Aswin Punathambekar presented a paper on the effects of international training programs on American journalists. Click here to download this paper.

	Research on the role of the media in transmitting information about health

	In 2002, Dr. Becker and Jisu Huh presented a paper on direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising and the impact this has among various demographics and exposure to new prescription drugs. Click here to download this paper.

Cox Center Director Dr. Becker and a translator reviewing responses to a questionnaire in Moscow.