An exploratory research: a comparative analysis of mainstream and ethnic media coverage of social policy issues in the economic stimulus plan debate1

Abstract

The goal of this exploratory research is to analyze the news coverage of healthcare, education, and employment compared with other issues of the economic stimulus plan in both mainstream and ethnic media. Content analysis of 275 news stories of four mainstream media and 165 news stories of eight ethnic media suggests that both the mainstream and ethnic media put emphasis on the same issues except education at issue-level agenda-setting. Both National Public Radio (NPR) and Cable News Network (CNN) covered health, education, and employment issues more than The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. In the case of second-level agenda-setting (sub-issues), we found more ethnicity-oriented sub-issues in the news coverage of ethnic media.