Framing and Coverage of Same-Sex Marriaged in U.S. Newspapers

This study examined fairness and balance in the coverage of same- sex marriage by 5 U. S. newspapers, and how source use, newspaper working context, and media frames affect fairness and balance of the coverage. A content analysis of 209 stories found that overall coverage of same-sex marriage was fair and balanced and stories framed as thematic were more likely to be fair and balanced than stories framed as episodic. Source dominance of the stories was associated with balance of the coverage. Hypotheses about the effects of working context on fairness and balance of news coverage and on media frames were not supported.