Date of Graduation
2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Diana Martinelli
Abstract
This study examined a segment of the 2008 Presidential election, which presents a significant political pinnacle for the United States of America. For the first time in this young democracy’s history, a white woman (Hillary Rodham Clinton) and an African American man (Barack Obama) are frontrunners for the Presidency. However, during this inspiring moment in our nation’s history, one must realize research exists suggesting that agenda setting, framing, and gender or racial cues in the media can influence voters’ opinions of minority candidates. With that in mind, this study examined how race and gender are framed during the Democratic Presidential nomination process. This study found that gender was the most salient issue in newspaper articles from October 2007 through December 2007; however, in January 2008, race became the most salient issue. These findings suggest a relationship between a candidate’s position in a Presidential primary and the saliency of their race or gender in newspaper coverage. This relationship suggests that the better a candidate performs in caucuses and primaries, and subsequently becomes the party frontrunner, their race or gender will be more salient in newspaper articles. This study also found that despite racial and gender salience, these attributes were framed in a similar fashion.
Recommended Citation
LaPoe, Benjamin Rex II, "Gender and racial cues during the 2008 Democratic Party's presidential candidate nomination process: Social responsibility in the 21st century." (2008). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD). 11087.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11087