A study published in the current issue of Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy examines both media and professional interest in homelessness over the past 30 years. The study was conducted by Paul Toro, an associate professor in psychology at Wayne State University. Toro and his Research Group on Homelessness and Poverty have conducted a wide range of studies on homelessness over the past two decades.

In the mid 1980s the amount of media attention on homelessness exploded. For example, The New York Times published 357 articles on homelessness, an average of almost one per day, according to the study.

Professional coverage peaked a few years later. However, upon taking into consideration the time needed to acquire funding, initiate and complete research, write results, and account for the publication lag in professional outlets such as journals, professional interest was piqued at around the same time. During the height of media coverage, articles on homelessness were the most sympathetic and positive.

Since the 1980s, both media and professional interest have plateaued, possibly because the topic had been covered in depth for many years and the media may have wanted to move onto more current topics. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article please contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.

Blackwell Publishing, publisher of Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with more than 550 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 750 journals and 600 text and reference books annually, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects.