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Slanted Newspaper Coverage of Immigration: The Importance of Economics and Geography
Author(s) -
Branton Regina P.,
Dunaway Johanna
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.2009.00313.x
Subject(s) - newspaper , immigration , incentive , regional science , media coverage , political science , focus (optics) , advertising , geography , economic geography , sociology , economics , business , media studies , law , physics , optics , microeconomics
When compared to studies of media effects, relatively few studies of the media focus on factors that influence the behavior of media organizations. Specifically, there are few empirical studies of the attributes and incentives of news organizations that might lead to slanted coverage of particular policy issues. In this study, we identify factors that lead to negatively slanted coverage of a specific policy issue: immigration. Using content analysis, geographic information systems (GIS) data, and contextual data, we find that newspaper ownership and proximity to the U.S.–Mexico border are related to slant in news articles and opinion pieces regarding immigration.