Media Bias in Presidential Election Coverage 1948-2008: Evaluation via Formal Measurement

by David W. D'Alessio

Overview

In Media Bias in Presidential Election Coverage 1948-2008, Dave D'Alessio employs meta-analytic techniques to examine whether there are partisan biases in coverage of Presidential election campaigns in newspapers, on TV, and in the news magazines. This study further analyses the four essential natures of news media: as journalistic entities, property, businesses, and political actors. Aggregating the results of 99 previous studies, D'Alessio scrutinizes bias claims in news media, and why political candidates consistently make such accusations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739164754
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	05/01/2013
Series:	Lexington Studies in Political Communication
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	154
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dave D'Alessio is an associate professor of communication sciences at the Stamford regional campus of the University of Connecticut.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: On the Nature of Media Bias Chapter Two: Forces Acting on the News Chapter Three: The Challenges of Measuring Bias Chapter Four: Are "The Media" "Biased"? Chapter Five: Myths and Realities of Coverage Chapter Six: Conclusions, Caveats, and Ruminations

What People are Saying About This

Kathleen Hall Jamieson

"A thoughtful and sophisticated analysis of a complex issue.

William Benoit

"This book is an important contribution to a significant topic: bias in news coverage of presidential campaigns. The book confirms and extends a previous study with substantially more data and with new data. This is an important resource for those interested in campaigns and in news coverage.

Editorial Reviews

Communications scientist Dave D'Alessio employs social scientific methods to examine media coverage across sixteen presidential elections from 1948 through 2008, evaluating potential bias based on party, ideology, type of medium, volume of coverage, tone or valance, and public or private ownership.. . .At the end of his study, D'Alessio synthesizes his findings and provides direction for future research.. . .The book contains the full data set, which will be a benefit for all subsequent examinations of media bias.

International Social Science Review

This book is an important contribution to a significant topic: bias in news coverage of presidential campaigns. The book confirms and extends a previous study with substantially more data and with new data. This is an important resource for those interested in campaigns and in news coverage.

William L. Benoit

D’Alessio provides important perspective on a critical issue in presidential politics. Media Bias in Presidential ElectionCoverage, as a whole, presents one of our most comprehensive works on the subject.

Presidential Studies Quarterly

A thoughtful and sophisticated analysis of a complex issue.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson

This book is an important contribution to a significant topic: bias in news coverage of presidential campaigns. The book confirms and extends a previous study with substantially more data and with new data. This is an important resource for those interested in campaigns and in news coverage.

William Benoit

"A thoughtful and sophisticated analysis of a complex issue."--Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania

D'Alessio provides important perspective on a critical issue in presidential politics. Media Bias in Presidential Election Coverage, as a whole, presents one of our most comprehensive works on the subject.--Presidential Studies Quarterly

Communications scientist Dave D'Alessio employs social scientific methods to examine media coverage across sixteen presidential elections from 1948 through 2008, evaluating potential bias based on party, ideology, type of medium, volume of coverage, tone or valance, and public or private ownership. . . .At the end of his study, D'Alessio synthesizes his findings and provides direction for future research. . . .The book contains the full data set, which will be a benefit for all subsequent examinations of media bias.--International Social Science Review

From the Publisher