Jim A. Kuypers
Encyclopedia
Jim A. Kuypers is an American
academic specializing in communication studies
. A professor at Virginia Tech, he has written on the news media
, rhetorical criticism
and presidential rhetoric, and is particularly known for his work in political communication which explores the qualitative aspects of framing analysis
and its relationship to presidential communication and news media bias.
Kuypers graduated with a Bachelor of Science
and a Master of Arts
from Florida State University
. He earned a Ph.D.
in communication studies
from Louisiana State University
.
Kuypers has taught at Virginia Tech since 2005. Previously, he was a senior lecturer in rhetoric
and oratory
at Dartmouth College
and taught at Louisiana State University, Florida State University
, and Florida Atlantic University
.
and rhetorical criticism. The field of political communication spans both communication and political science
. Political communication involves the study of the political rhetoric of individuals and groups. For Kuypers, politics is a process that takes place through communication, rather than the sheer exercise or attempt at power.
(rhetorical) version of framing analysis which is designed not only to look for bias, but also to understand how the original messages of political actors are reframed by the press before being transmitted to the public. In his work he has investigated how news broadcasts, stories, and editorials act to shape public understanding of issues and events in a particular direction.
In relation to other theories of the press, Kuypers argues that "agenda-extension begins when media gatekeepers decide to publish a particular story because issues are often framed by station managers, producers, or editors by how they decide to tell a particular story. Although deciding what story to tell (gate-keeping) is the first step in all news reporting, the press takes a second step when determining how much attention to give to the story (agenda-setting), and a third step when they determine how to tell the story (agenda-extension).
This work also puts forward four distinct journalistic practices that the press uses that allows for bias to seep into its reporting; and argues that the mainstream press in America is an anti-democratic institution. The core assertion of the book is that the mainstream press in America operate within a narrow range of liberal beliefs, and that those to the left or the right of these views will be ignored, mocked, or denigrated.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic specializing in communication studies
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
. A professor at Virginia Tech, he has written on the news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
, rhetorical criticism
Rhetorical criticism
Rhetorical criticism is an approach to criticism that is at least as old as Plato. In the Phaedrus, Plato has Socrates examine a speech by Lysias to determine whether or not it is praiseworthy...
and presidential rhetoric, and is particularly known for his work in political communication which explores the qualitative aspects of framing analysis
Framing (social sciences)
A frame in social theory consists of a schema of interpretation — that is, a collection of anecdotes and stereotypes—that individuals rely on to understand and respond to events. In simpler terms, people build a series of mental filters through biological and cultural influences. They use these...
and its relationship to presidential communication and news media bias.
Kuypers graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. He earned a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in communication studies
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
.
Kuypers has taught at Virginia Tech since 2005. Previously, he was a senior lecturer in rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
and oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
and taught at Louisiana State University, Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, and Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
.
Scholarship
Kuypers’ work falls into two broad categories: political communicationPolitical communication
Political communication is a sub-field of political science and communication that deals with the production, dissemination, procession and effects of information, both through media and interpersonally, within a political context...
and rhetorical criticism. The field of political communication spans both communication and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. Political communication involves the study of the political rhetoric of individuals and groups. For Kuypers, politics is a process that takes place through communication, rather than the sheer exercise or attempt at power.
Political Communication
Kuypers’ work in political communication involves looking for media bias, especially how the news media frames political news. According the author, "Framing is a process whereby communicators, consciously or unconsciously, act to construct a point of view that encourages the facts of a given situation to be interpreted by others in a particular manner. Frames operate in four key ways: they define problems, diagnose causes, make moral judgments, and suggest remedies. Frames are often found within a narrative account of an issue or event, and are generally the central organizing idea." He has developed a qualitativeQualitative research
Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such...
(rhetorical) version of framing analysis which is designed not only to look for bias, but also to understand how the original messages of political actors are reframed by the press before being transmitted to the public. In his work he has investigated how news broadcasts, stories, and editorials act to shape public understanding of issues and events in a particular direction.
Presidential Crisis Rhetoric and the Press
Kuypers’ first major work examining framing, politics, and the news media was Presidential Crisis Rhetoric and the Press in the Post-Cold War World. In this work he examined the changed nature of presidential crisis rhetoric since the ending of the cold war, and first advanced a qualitative version of comparative framing analysis. It was here that he first used the term "agenda-extension" to describe a process where the news media "beyond the strict reporting of events" and instead foster a particular understanding of an issue or event.In relation to other theories of the press, Kuypers argues that "agenda-extension begins when media gatekeepers decide to publish a particular story because issues are often framed by station managers, producers, or editors by how they decide to tell a particular story. Although deciding what story to tell (gate-keeping) is the first step in all news reporting, the press takes a second step when determining how much attention to give to the story (agenda-setting), and a third step when they determine how to tell the story (agenda-extension).
Press Bias and Politics
In 2002, his framing research was expanded in Press Bias and Politics: How the Media Frame Controversial Issues. In this work, Kuypers comparatively analyzed the speeches of five public figures, ranging from ministers to presidents. Here Kuypers examined approximately 700 press reports on controversial issues that were published in 116 different newspapers. Kuypers reports finding a left of center bias in the mainstream press reporting practices. He argues that this bias hurts the democratic process in general by ignoring non-mainstream left positions and vilifying many moderate and the vast majority of right-leaning positions. In short, he found that only a narrow brand of liberal thought was supported by the press, with all other positions shut out or shut down.This work also puts forward four distinct journalistic practices that the press uses that allows for bias to seep into its reporting; and argues that the mainstream press in America is an anti-democratic institution. The core assertion of the book is that the mainstream press in America operate within a narrow range of liberal beliefs, and that those to the left or the right of these views will be ignored, mocked, or denigrated.
Bush’s War
Kuypers’ third book in this framing trilogy is Bush’s War: Media Bias and Justifications for War in a Terrorist Age. According Kuypers, "The idea [in the book was to] look for themes about 9-11 and the War on Terror that the President used, and then look at what themes the press used when reporting on what the president said. After identifying themes, I determine how those themes are framed. Through this comparative analysis, we can detect differences in the frames presented to the American people, and determine the nature of any press bias." What Kuypers found was that the news media echoed the president’s themes and the framing of those themes immediately following 9/11. But just eight weeks later, the press had changed its manner of reporting, was actually framing Bush as an enemy of civil liberties, and was actively helping critics of the president.Rhetorical Criticism
Kuypers work in rhetorical criticism involves critical commentary on the state of the art in the field of rhetorical criticism. Several publications demonstrate his effort to explain advocacy based criticism: “Must We All Be Political Activists?” (2000) and “Criticism, Politics, and Objectivity: Redivivus ” (2001) are two such works. Kuypers has also edited Rhetorical Criticism: Perspectives in Action (2009) in which he explains rhetoric, rhetorical criticism, and also presents 16 different perspectives on how to do criticism.Selected publications
- Doing News Framing Analysis: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives (Routledge, 2010). Paul D'Angelo and Jim A. Kuypers , eds. ISBN 978-0415992367
- Rhetorical Criticism: Perspectives in Action (Lexington Books, 2009). ISBN 0-7391-2774-8
- Politics and Communication in America: Campaigns, Media, and Governing in the 21st Century (Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2008). Robert E. Denton and Jim A. Kuypers. ISBN 1-57766-533-3
- Bush’s War: Press Bias and Framing of the War on Terror (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2006). ISBN 0-7425-3653-X
- "A Comparative Framing Analysis of Embedded and Behind-the-Lines Reporting on the 2003 Iraq War," Qualitative Research Reports in Communication 6.1 (2005): 1-10. Jim A. Kuypers and Stephen Cooper
- The Art of Rhetorical Criticism (Boston: AllynBacon, 2005). ISBN 0-205-37141-8.
- Compassionate Conservatism: The Rhetorical Reconstruction of Conservative Rhetoric, The American Communication Journal 6.4 (2003).
- Press Bias and Politics: How the Media Frame Controversial Issues" (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2002). ISBN 0-275-97759-5
- Twentieth-Century Roots of Rhetorical Studies (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001). Jim A. Kuypers and Andrew King, eds. ISBN 0-275-96420-5
- Presidential Crisis Rhetoric and the Press in the Post-Cold War World (Westport, CT: Praeger, 1997). ISBN 0-275-95721-7
See also
- media biasMedia biasMedia bias refers to the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the...
- media bias in the United StatesMedia bias in the United StatesMedia bias in the United States occurs when the media in the United States systematically presents a particular point of view. Claims of media bias in the United States include claims of liberal bias, conservative bias, mainstream bias, and corporate bias...
- War on TerrorismWar on TerrorismThe War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...