Pit Bull or Pig? Agenda Setting and Coverage of Sarah Palin and Joe Biden in the Blogosphere During the 2008 Campaign

• In Event: New Media Content and the 2008 Presidential Campaign

Abstract

The 2008 election, coupled with the emergence of new media as political tools, provided a unique context in which to examine the role of gender in media coverage of political candidates. This study employed agenda setting theory to examine the personal coverage, election issue coverage, and tone of coverage for 2008 vice presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden on the ten of the most prominent politically-oriented blogs.

Authors

• Amy Marie Mertensmeyer, Louisiana State University

• Robert H. Wicks, University of Arkansas