ABSTRACT
Social movements desire coverage in the news media mainly as a means to other ends (Gamson and Wolfsfeld, 1993). The news media can amplify the messages of movements to train the attention of the mass public on their causes (Ferree et al., 2002) and organizations (Vliegenthart, Oegema, and Klandermans, 2005). News coverage also catches the eye of political officials who are often the targets of the action (Lipsky, 1968). The news media may also lend these organizations and leaders legitimacy (Koopmans, 2004) and broadcast their grievances, preferred ways of conceptualizing an issue, and what to do about it (Gamson, 2004; Ryan, 1991; Ferree et al., 2002). Thus movements seek news media coverage and often devote much time and energy to trying to secure it (Gitlin, 1980; Gamson, 2004; Ryan, Anastario, and Jeffreys, 2005; Sobieraj, 2011).
