Connie Book, assistant professor of journalism and communications, wrote an op-ed piece which appeared Sunday, April 18 in the Greensboro News & Record.
Book’s piece, titled “Truth about Catholicism hidden under media veil,” discusses the phenomenon of agenda setting in the media. Agenda setting is the process that happens when editors decide which stories deserve coverage in the daily paper or on the evening newscast.
Book said stories selected for publication numerous times create deeply rooted perceptions among readers and viewers.
“Recent coverage of the atypical Catholic priests involved in criminal activity has resulted in a negative frame for the priesthood,” Book wrote. “The negative frame veils the typical, which is that the vast majority of priests dedicate their lives to helping others.”