"Dr. Reynalds' study broadens our understanding of the troubles of the homeless and helps us see what we don't know. Reading his study gives us new understanding of the beggar on the street corner and the stumbling drunk looking for shelter in an alley or under a bridge. It tells us about a piece of America few of us understand or worry very much about." - Professor Bob M. Gassaway, University of New Mexico

"Dr. Reynalds probes a dimension of life in modern America that is seldom addressed and begs for additional understanding and attention. His study focuses on the phenomenon of homelessness in our consciousness through the interpretative reporting of our daily news media." - Professor Donald E. Douglas, Biola University

Jeremy Reynalds has a Ph.D in Intercultural Education from Biola University in Los Angeles and a Master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Reynalds is the founder and executive director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, which provides food, shelter, clothing and a faith-based approach to recovery and returning to mainstream society from living on the periphery.

He was a contributor to Reading the Homeless (Praeger, 1999) with a chapter entitled "Informing and Educating the Media - A Hopeful Perspective on the Media and the Homeless."

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Background and Significance of the Study

Introduction

Outline

General Statement of the Issue or Problem

Project Overview

Question Form

Education and Culture

Research Statements

Definition of Significant Terms

Researcher Biases and Limitations of the Study

Chapter 2. Review of Relevant Literature

Introduction

The Informal Educational Function of the Media

Entertainment-Education and Media Agenda-setting

The Media and the Homeless

The Poor: A Biblical Perspective

Chapter 3. Research Methods

Chapter 4. Findings

Interviews

Summary of Interviews with the Homeless, by Themes

Interviews with National Media Professionals

Interviews with Local Media Professionals

Chapter 5. Analytical Overview of the Interviews

Chapter 6. Entertainment-Education Theory / Biblical Theory

Entertainment-Education Theory

Simplemente Maria

Biblical Theory

Chapter 7. Analysis

Research Question

Analysis Overview

A Reporter’s World View Guides the Questions

Analysis of Stories of the Homeless and Crime

Violence in General on Television

Negativity and the Homeless

Linking the Word “Homeless” with Criminal Activity

Chapter 8. Conclusion and Recommendations

Opportunities for Further Study

Appendix A: Statistical Analysis

Content Ratings by Category and Media

Analysis Details

Appendix B: Questions Asked of the Homeless

Appendix C: Interviews with the Homeless

Appendix D: Ethnographic Field Research

Introduction

Methodology

Observation

Appendix E: Who the Homeless Are (Interviews)

Interview Methodology

Appendix F: The Homeless in Shelter Activity Logs

Appendix G: Analysis of Shelter Log Data

References

Index

About the Author