Gender, race, commercialism, and news values in television: An ethnographic case study of NBC news anchor and correspondent Ann Curry at work

This study examines the negotiation of commercialism and professionalism in network news through a case study of the work of NBC News anchor and correspondent Ann Curry during a time of significant achievement for Curry and rapid change across the news landscape.;The researcher had unprecedented access to Curry's professional life during eight weeks between October 2005 and February 2008 at NBC News World Headquarters in New York City. She observed Curry's daily work experiences, including those for the Today show, Dateline, and NBC Nightly News. The researcher also interviewed Curry about covering current event issues that occurred during the research period. Events included the crisis in Darfur, the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict, and Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistan. Other methods included: (1) analysis of documents pertaining to the General Electric Company, parent of NBC Universal and NBC News; (2) analysis of media representations of Curry to determine her public image; and (3) biographical research about Curry obtained from published materials and interviews with Curry and her father.;Analysis of the data revealed three themes that shape Curry's role as a network newswoman. These themes were assessed through a multi-perspective theoretical framework blending feminist media theories, the political economy of communication, and ways of classifying news. Behind the scenes at NBC News, Curry is a leader who is widely counted on and is committed to working as part of a team. Curry is an idealist who believes that journalism is still a public service; in this regard, she is a humanitarian reporter in the sense that she treats her sources as human beings and not as sound bites and privileges humanity by what she deems newsworthy. Celebrity is also central to Curry's role as a network newswoman. She understands the degree of fame involved with her position, but considers herself, first and foremost, a news professional.;This research contributes to scholarship about the interplay of gender, race, celebrity, and news values as exemplified in the work of one mixed-race woman who has achieved success in network news. The project contributes to communication scholarship by addressing the theoretical relationship of ethnography and journalism.