Content Analysis as a Technique for Measuring Press Performance

During the 1952 Presidential election campaign, a criticism was made of the American press which caused many journalists and newspaper organizations to pause for reflection and to study their role in the campaign. The criticism gained wide attention when Adlai Stevenson, Democratic nominee for President, scored a "... one-party press in a two-party country" in a speech on September 9 at a luncheon sponsored by the Oregon Journal. His remarks set off a see-saw of denials and accusations by Republicans, Democrats, and members of the accused profession.