Framing Power: Comparing U.S. Newspaper Visuals of Latino and Non-Latino Candidates

Abstract

Despite political representation remaining below Latinos’ share of the population, no research has solely compared news coverage between Latino candidates and non-Latino candidates. This study content analyzed 815 newspaper photographs and 608 photograph-associated headlines of Latino candidates and non-Latino candidates in 14 newspapers during the last 2 months of 4 statewide elections between 2003 and 2008 in the U.S. Southwest. Overall, newspaper treatment of Latino and non-Latino candidates competing for statewide office was similar by state. Similarities in newspaper coverage may be explained by institutional policies of balance and news workers viewing Latino senatorial and gubernatorial candidates as equally legitimate and important because of Latinos’ continuous presence and large proportion of the population in the U.S. Southwest.

KEYTERMS:

• agenda setting
• framing
• Latino candidates
• newspapers
• visuals

Acknowledgments

This article is drawn from Jennifer Schwartz's dissertation, “Candidate Coverage: Newspaper Visuals, Ethnicity and Community Diversity,” which was completed at the School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon.

Notes

Note. Figures were generated by Phi tests, df = 1. Colorado had cells with less than five counts. Displayed are the percentages of total candidate photographs that meet each favorable criteria. The total number of cases (n) for each candidate in each state is displayed above candidate identification.

Note. Figures were generated by Phi tests, df = 1. New Mexico and Colorado had cells with less than five counts. Displayed are the percentages of total candidate photographs that meet each favorable criteria. The total number of cases (n) for each candidate in each state is displayed above candidate identification.