Pit bull or pig?: Agenda-setting and Palin in the blogosphere.

摘要

This thesis analyzes the content posted on selected political blogs preceding the 2008 presidential election in order to observe the ways in which vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was covered. Aspects of agenda-setting theory are employed to explain how the media's portrayal of candidates can affect the ways in which the public forms opinions. Ways in which previous research has determined that female candidates have been discriminated against by traditional media are considered. Differences in amount of coverage, amount of personal versus issue coverage, and tone are discussed. These aspects are analyzed in three categories: across presidential candidates, across vice presidential candidates, and by party. Blog content is analyzed to determine if these discriminations have transcended into the blogosphere.