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Are Documentaries Journalism? The Gap Between a Shared Truth and Verification

Jacoway, Paul R.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1406801661

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Journalism (Communication).
This dissertation examines to what extent the most popular documentaries as ranked by Netflix conform to the principles of journalism as defined by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosentiel, vs. the shared truth of the documentary filmmaker as defined by narrative inquiry theory. Fifteen of the most popular documentaries were viewed twice in their entirety. Time-code was noted to mark events and sequences of the narrative for the sake of reference and comparison. They were selected from the documentary categories used by Netflix that most parallel the documentary categories of history, propaganda, art, style, entertainment, biography, and politics or dissident message, which have appeared as the most common categories in the literature. Qualitative analysis found that political documentaries were the most closely associated with a shared truth, while biographical and historical documentaries were most closely associated with journalistic standards. If documentary filmmakers edit fairly, such as by providing clear identification of speakers and sources, offering the facts and voices of more than one side, verifying their facts and claims, stating their premises clearly, and leaving the conclusion open to the viewer, then they are an example of a high level of verification associated with journalism.
Michael Sweeney, Dr. (Committee Chair)
289 p.
Communication; Film Studies; Journalism; Mass Media
documentary; shared truth; verification; Kovach and Rosentiel; narrative inquiry theory; Netflix; history; biography; political speech; propaganda; filmmaker; journalism; timecode; narrative

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jacoway, P. R. (2014). Are Documentaries Journalism? The Gap Between a Shared Truth and Verification [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1406801661

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jacoway, Paul. Are Documentaries Journalism? The Gap Between a Shared Truth and Verification. 2014. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1406801661.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jacoway, Paul. "Are Documentaries Journalism? The Gap Between a Shared Truth and Verification." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1406801661

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.