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32 J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare 107 (2005)
Implications of Media Scrutiny for a Child Protection Agency

handle is hein.journals/jrlsasw32 and id is 463 raw text is: IMPLICATIONS OF MEDIA SCRUTINY FOR A CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY LINDSAY D. COOPER Oakland University Department of Sociology & Anthropology This study examines media impact on job efficacy in a child protection agency. The research uses inductive, holistic research methods to examine the effect of media scrutiny on changes in management dictates, worker duties and responsibilities, and agency services. Data were collected from media sources, interviews, archival materials, and participant observation, then analyzed via qualitative content analysis, providing a basis for rich ethnographic description of perceptions and behavior of diverse groups of people involved in child protection. The study reveals how contradictions in American national culture generate a need for increased communication, understanding, agreement, and support, between various groups of people who influence child protection. Keywords: child protection agency, media scrutiny, culture, job efficacy Introduction In recent years, the media has become an increasingly impor- tant influence in shaping public opinion about many aspects of American culture, including the way public service organizations are administered. One aspect of the culture that is often in the news is how Americans provide protection for their children, a popular topic in newspapers, on news reports, and in homes today. Often the media position on this topic is negative, noting that too many children are harmed, and blaming child protection agencies for not preventing these situations from occurring (i.e., To save the state money,. .. children are being left in abusive Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, September, 2005, Volume XXXII, Number 3

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