The following study investigates mass media coverage of the consumer privacy issue from 1990–2001 across three media formats: newspapers, consumer magazines, and trade publications. The results indicate that media coverage has increased dramatically in all media formats. Overall, article content has varied relative to the primary privacy domain covered, primary story topic, and the portrayal of the direct marketing industry. Differences were found across media outlets with respect to the source of the privacy problem and the source of the potential solution. Implications and ideas for future research also are presented.
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