An Iconic Figure’s Precipitous Fall from Grace: Transforming the Media Narrative of Joe Paterno

Abstract

Romanticized media narratives of prominent figures are typically resistant to change. This research takes a grounded theory approach to study the case of Joe Paterno, an iconic organizational figure who became embroiled in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State. As a result, the mass media dramatically rewrote the existing media narrative regarding Paterno within five days and sustained it thereafter—an example of “the power of words.” Results provide insight into the processes that enable dramatic narrative transformations and falls from grace. The research also clarifies the concept of an iconic organizational figure as someone who personifies an organization’s identity, image, and culture.