olicy makers in Washington.
In 2003, a majority of Americans depend on network-television news organizations for information on world and national affairs. The role of the visual electronic mass media, thus, is crucial in the development of public opinion in the contemporary United States, especially so in relation to phenomena such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (which appears to have moved well beyond a series of related events to become a phenomenon with a life to its own).
A research study, thus, is proposed to investigate the coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the visual electronic mass media in the United States over a recent period of 12 months. The proposal is to investigate such coverage during the inclusive period 1 August 2002 through 31 July 2003. The proposed research study will investigate the following question:
How did the coverage by the American visual electronic mass media of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the inclusive period 1 August 2002 through 31 July 2003 affect the need of the of the American people for balanced information on the issue?
In the context of the question proposed for investigation, it is important to understand the meaning of the term "balanced". "Balanced", within the context of the research question, does not mean simply equal time for each side in news reports, although to some extent the concept of equal time is relevant and important. Of greater concern, however, is the attainment of balance in relation to the following factors:
Reporting all positive contributions to efforts by both sides to solve the problem
Reporting all of the destructive and inhumane acts by both sides, regardless of the justifications offered in explanation for such behavior
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