‘It’s better than blaming a dead young man’ : Creating mythical archetypes in local coverage of the Mississippi River drownings

Gutsche Jr, Robert and Salkin, Erica (2013) ‘It’s better than blaming a dead young man’ : Creating mythical archetypes in local coverage of the Mississippi River drownings. Journalism, 14 (1). pp. 61-77. ISSN 1741-3001

Abstract

This study provides a glimpse at myth within newswork created at the local level during a time of death. Through an analysis of news coverage of the drownings of 10 young men in Wisconsin over 13 years, we examine how myth and narrative are used not just for larger, national or global moments, but within the local newspaper, in news stories that may be influenced by the needs of the local community.