Abstract:
This thesis describes the framing and sequencing tendencies of the mass media and
chronicles the implementation and usages of the framing and sequencing theories by the
New York Times and the Washington Post at three key intervals throughout the Ferguson
conflict; the death of Michael Brown, the Grand Jury’s decision, and the resignation of
Police Chief Jackson. In the process of researching and writing this thesis, the author
coded all of the articles published, by the two media sources, one week after each key
event were coded in an effort to decipher a pattern of framing and sequencing tendencies.