Abstract
This chapter discusses the theoretical framework utilized in this book's examination of The New York Times and The Washington Post coverage of the Iran Deal. It begins by introducing media sociology and Shoemaker and Reese's Hierarchical Influences Model, the conceptual lynchpins for the empirical components of this project. Special attention is given to indexing theory, which addresses and expands the symbiotic relationship between journalists and official sources and is hailed by many researchers as an important framework for studying the relationship between the government and the press, particularly in the realm of foreign affairs. The related areas of cascading activation, source usage, and framing are also discussed.