The 2000 presidential election: A content analysis of newspaper media coverage

Following the guidelines of journalistic integrity, media coverage of presidential elections should be fair and unbiased. This study examined the newspaper media coverage of George W. Bush and Al Gore, the two major presidential candidates in the 2000 election. This study examined all issues of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun and the Reno Gazette-Journal during the 65-day time frame from Labor Day to Election Day 2000. This study tested three research questions and one hypothesis. The research questions asked if the overall amounts of newspaper coverage of George W. Bush and Al Gore were equal and neutral and whether issue coverage was related to date. The hypothesis stated that there would be a difference in campaign issue and candidate coverage between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Results were analyzed using the chi square test of independence. Support was found for both the research questions and hypothesis, indicating that newspaper media coverage of the two major presidential candidates was unfair and biased.