Fairness and Balance in the Structural Characteristics of Newspaper Stories on the 1996 Presidential Election

Abstract

This content study of how Michigan's nine largest daily newspapers covered the 1996 presidential campaign focuses on structural characteristics of news stories that may influence readers to judge reporting as fair or biased. Specifically, the study examines institutional and newsroom influences on such characteristics. Results indicated that stories were significantly imbalanced structurally. Regardless of the candidate a reader might have supported, chances were nearly men that any encountered story was one sided, but two-sided stories were likely to be significantly imbalanced as well. Event coverage was the biggest predictor of imbalanced sto y structure.

Conflict/Proximity Determine Advocacy Group Coverage

“…Not only do agenda-setting studies treat story placement as a critical element of audience issue salience, 39 but scholars often treat stories on the first page of the first section as signaling the newspaper's editorial policy of story importance. 40 Stories on the front page of other sections also represent important stories, while less important stories generally appear on inside pages. 41 in content by story location, indicating patterns of editorial decisions affected placement of content.…”

Friend or Foe? The Media Coverage of Chicago’s Public Housing Transformation

“…Stories about protest events do not always paint the most accurate or favorable picture of a movement (Smith et al 2001). The coverage of controversial social issues often favors one viewpoint at the expense of others, even when the coverage is free of moral judgments (Fico & Cote 1999;Budner & Krauss 1995). It is very difficult to provide equal attention to both sides of a debate.…”

Covering Presidential Election Campaigns: Does Reporter Gender Affect the Work Lives of Correspondents and Their Reportage?

“…Fifth, the position of the reporter's story was coded, using three options: lead story, before the first commercial break, and after the first commercial break. The positioning of stories on news platforms signals importance (Fico & Cote, 1999;Iyengar & Kinder, 1987;Nisbett & Ross, 1980) and therefore reflects on the prestige of the reporter. The lead story is broadcast at the top of the newscast, immediately following the program logo and headline promotions and is considered the most important story of the day.…”