Coughlin and O'Reilly Propaganda Study
Indiania Journalism
Posted May 2007
Table 1. Comparison of Coughlin and O'Reilly on the frequency of using propaganda devices.

Variable Coughlin O'Reilly
  Sum Incidents per minute Sum Incidents per minute
Name calling 113 3.42 2209.00 8.88
Glittering generality 94 2.85 737.00 2.96
Transfer 20 .61 26.00 .10
Plain folks 13 .39 10.00 .04
Bandwagon 21 .64 167.00 .67
Testimonial 3 .09 61.00 .25
TOTAL 264 8.00 3210.00 12.91
DURATION (minutes) 33.00 248.65
Table 2. The identity of role-players

Identity Frequency % Rank
Red 36 7.3  
Bush and his administration 21 4.30 10
Republicans 10 2.00 14
Political right 5 1.00 19
Blue 63 12.78  
Democrats 27 5.50 8
Political left 36 7.30 4
Generic politician/government 17 3.40 12
U.S. Military 26 5.30 9
Criminal justice 33 6.70 5
Media 115 23.33  
Right 9 1.80 15
Left 64 13.00 1
No affiliation 42 8.50 3
Foreigners 28 5.70 7
Illegal aliens 20 4.10 11
Criminals 10 2.00 14
Terrorists 15 3.00 13
Academics 28 5.70 7
Celebrities 7 1.40 17
Christians 8 1.60 16
Non-Christians 6 1.20 18
Americans 75 15.21  
Individuals 32 6.50 6
As a group 43 8.70 2
Other 6 1.20 18
TOTAL 493 100.00  
Table 3. Victims, villains, and the virtuous.
Identity Victim Villain Virtuous
    Bad Evil Good Hero
  % % % % %
Red 22.20 47.20 0 25.00 5.60
Bush and his administration 28.60 33.30 0 33.30 4.80
Republicans 10.00 60.00 0 20.00 10.00
Political right 30.00 80.00 0 0 0
Blue 1.60 90.50 7.90 0 0
Democrats 3.70 96.30 0 0 0
Political left 0 86.10 13.90 0 0
Generic politician/government 0 70.60 11.8 17.60 0
U.S. Military 30.80 26.90 0 42.30 0
Criminal justice 12.10 54.50 6.10 27.30 0
Media 5.20 85.20 0 8.70 .90
Right 22.20 11.10 0 55.60 11.10
Left 0 96.90 0 3.10 0
No affiliation 9.50 83.30 0 7.10 0
Foreigners 14.30 50.00 25.00 10.70 0
Illegal aliens 0 15.00 75.00 10.00 0
Criminals 0 50.00 50.00 0 0
Terrorists 0 20.00 80.00 0 0
Academics 7.10 71.40 17.90 3.60 0
Celebrities 28.60 57.10 0 14.30 0
Christians 25.00 25.00 0 37.50 12.50
Non-Christians 16.70 66.70 16.70 0 0
Americans 53.3 28.00 2.7 14.7 1.3
Individuals 62.50 28.10 6.30 3.10 0
As a group 46.50 27.90 0 23.30 2.30
Other 16.70 33.30 0 50.00 0

Figure 1. Prominent victims and reasons.

picture-1 (9K)

Figure 2. Prominent bad role-players and reasons.

picture-2 (17K)

Figure 3. Prominent sources of evil and the reasons for being that.

picture-3 (11K)

Figure 4. Prominent good role-players and reasons.

picture-4 (12K)
Original Text