Outline for a Scholarly Article
I. Justification
Why this topic is worth researching.
Possibilities:
A. Timeliness. Recent events have made it relevant
B. Theory building. Other researchers have fitted pieces to the puzzle, and I'm here to advance it another notch.
C. Practical use. The answer could make life better for media managers or journalists or readers/viewers or society or somebody.
D. Curiosity. It would be fun to know.
II. Literature review
Don't overdo. Just summarize with enough detail to demonstrate your awareness of other great minds that have tackled the question.
III. The method
A. Tell where your data came from.
B. Explain your method of analysis.
IV. Analysis and conclusions
Give the conclusions and the process by which you reached them. If this part is really complicated, loop back afterward with a summary that recaps the main points.
V. Call for further research
Describe weaknesses or holes in your research and what other projects might do to repair them. Or, if there are none, suggest other avenues that are opened by reason of your discovery.