Date on Senior Honors Thesis

5-2019

Document Type

Senior Honors Thesis

Degree Name

B.A.

Department

Communication

Author's Keywords

poverty; journalism; news; media; Louisville; slum clearance

Abstract

This project examines poverty in news by analyzing reports on Louisville slum clearance, La Salle Place, and College Court public housing projects from November 1934 through February 1938 in the Courier-Journal, Louisville Herald-Post, and Louisville Leader newspapers. In contrast to current academic research, reports on issues related to poverty appeared regularly, portrayed the poor as deserving, and avoided intersecting poverty with issues of race or gender. However, in support of current academic research, coverage of poverty in Louisville neglected to discuss perpetual poverty and relied on elite sources for information. In the event of economic distress and federal intervention like the Great Depression, news reports may be more attentive and sympathetic toward the poor.

Lay Summary

This project examines poverty in news by analyzing reports on Louisville slum clearance, La Salle Place, and College Court public housing projects from November 1934 through February 1938 in the Courier-Journal, Louisville Herald-Post, and Louisville Leader newspapers. In contrast to current academic research, reports on issues related to poverty appeared regularly, portrayed the poor as deserving, and avoided intersecting poverty with issues of race or gender. However, in support of current academic research, coverage of poverty in Louisville neglected to discuss perpetual poverty and relied on elite sources for information. In the event of economic distress and federal intervention like the Great Depression, news reports may be more attentive and sympathetic toward the poor.

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