Journalists have insisted that John Oliver has inspired a new kind of journalism. They argue that Oliver's show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has inspired real-world action, a phenomenon journalists have called the "John Oliver Effect." Oliver, a comedian, refuses these claims. This thesis is the result of in-depth research into journalists' claims through the lens of agenda-setting. By conducting a qualitative content analysis, I evaluated the message characteristics of framing devices used on Oliver's show, then compared those message characteristics to the message characteristics and framing devices employed by legacy media.

This study presents an overall history of WRR, the first municipally owned radio station and describes the problems it encountered by competing in a commercial Dallas market. The study marks the establishment of WRR in 1920 as a signal transmitter for the Dallas Fire Department, its transition to an entertainment station, the addition of WRR-FM, retirement of long-time Station Manager Durward J. Tucker, heavy financial losses, public complaints, format changes, and the sale of the station. A final chapter provides a summary and recommendations for further study, and concludes that WRR should have left the commercial market when its revenue and ratings began to decline.

This study presents a detailed analysis of the public relations organization, objectives, and practices of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Dallas, Texas. Information sources included interviews with telephone company public relations personnel, company publications, and other publications. The five chapters deal with the history and development of the company and its public relations program, and the organization, functions, and operations of the public relations department. With a long and varied history of public relations activities, the company executes numerous activities for employees, customers, educational institutions, the community, stockholders, and the media. The study recommends that the department establish a committee to formulate long-range public relations goals, initiate a management orientation program, and advertise in area high school and college publications.