A Qualitative Textual Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Five Female Politicians in Utah's Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune
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Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2008-12-01 From Suffragettes to Grandmothers: A Qualitative Textual Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Five Female Politicians in Utah's Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune Holly M. Cox Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Cox, Holly M., "From Suffragettes to Grandmothers: A Qualitative Textual Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Five Female Politicians in Utah's Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 1602. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1602 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. FROM SUFFRAGETTES TO GRANDMOTHERS: A QUALITATIVE TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF FIVE FEMALE POLITICIANS IN UTAH‘S DESERET NEWS AND SALT LAKE TRIBUNE [TITLEby ] Holly Melissa Cox A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Mass Communications Department of Communications Brigham Young University December 2008 Copyright © 2008 Holly Melissa Cox All Rights Reserved BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Holly Melissa Cox This thesis has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. Date Sherry Baker, Chair Date Ed Adams, Ph.D Date Kevin Stoker, Ph.D BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY As chair of the candidate‘s graduate committee, I have read the thesis of Holly Melissa Cox in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographical style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library. Date Sherry Baker, Ph.D Chair, Graduate Committee Accepted for the Department Date Kevin Stoker, Ph.D Accepted for the College Date Rory R. Scanlon, Associate Dean ABSTRACT FROM SUFFRAGETTES TO GRANDMOTHERS: A QUALITATIVE TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF FIVE FEMALE POLITICIANS IN UTAH‘S DESERET NEWS AND SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Holly Melissa Cox Department of Communications Master of Mass Communications This thesis examines press coverage in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune of five female politicians in Utah history: Martha Hughes Cannon (1896), Reva Beck Bosone (1948), Karen Shepherd (1992), Enid Greene Waldholtz (1994), and Olene S. Walker (2003). A total of 438 articles were reviewed using qualitative textual analysis. Coverage by candidate varied, though it was not in general overtly biased concerning candidate gender. However, the press did call attention to the gender of candidate and gendered commentary was present. The press also called attention to the rarity of women running for high political office and addressed the ability of candidates to balance the roles of wife/mother/homemaker with a political career. This thesis contributes to the overall understanding of newspaper coverage of female politicians and provides a window into the cultural as well as political history of Utah. Suggestions for further research about media coverage of female politicians are made. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is quite impossible to mention all who have helped me through the past (agonizing) six years. Nonetheless, there are a few standouts who have helped me greatly, so allow me to try: Dr. Sherry Baker, without whom I would not have returned to school, and whose unflagging enthusiasm, encouragement, support, advice, and most of all—patience—carried me through five years of indecision, strung out nerves, and self-doubt. My graduate school friends—perhaps the best take-away from the program—foremost among them, Jenille & Tyrone. They helped me stay on track and keep my sanity, most especially Jen, who refused to let me drop out (many times) and who always believed in my ability to succeed. Jill, my sister, who has survived 4.5 years of ranting, weeping, whining, grumpiness, self- recrimination, and four abortive attempts to quit. All with a smile. Amazing. David and Sue, the best parents a girl could ask for. They raised me well, taught me to love learning, and to face challenges with confidence. Mum & Dad, too, have tolerated years of ranting, weeping, whining and grumpiness, but their enthusiasm, faith, love, and unfailing support have carried me far. And will, no doubt, continue to do so forever. Dear friends and co-workers—all known and numbered in my heart—who cheered me on, encouraged me to stay in the program, sent emails and flowers and texts and notes and phone messages, persecuted me (some good-naturedly, some not), followed up (occasionally a bit TOO regularly), and danced with pure delight when I finally finished. An array of great bosses, foremost amongst them Jennifer & Eric, who have patiently worked with me, put up with my pervasive Wednesday absences, and tolerated my sheer craziness there at the end. Without their flexibility and support, I could never have found the time to finish. The remainder of my committee, Dr. Ed Adams & Dr. Kevin Stoker, who were terrifically patient with my progress (and occasionally lack thereof), supportive, and saw the whole thing through. Yvette & Kim—two phenomenal women who proved to me it could be done. I needed that. And finally (and most grandly), God. I know—it‘s odd to acknowledge Deity in your thesis, but He is the source of everything wonderful in my life—including everyone I‘ve listed above. This degree was His idea, and true to His word, He saw me through the worst (and best) of it. I am forever and always in His debt, and quite frankly—glad to be there. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Background ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Contribution........................................................................................................................................ 2 Chapter 2: Literature Review ................................................................................................................. 5 Political Context of Utah .................................................................................................................... 5 The Role of Newspapers in Elections ................................................................................................ 7 Newspapers in Utah—the Deseret News & Salt Lake Tribune ........................................................ 10 Female Politicians in the News ........................................................................................................ 12 Chapter 3: Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 18 Qualitative Research Design and Textual Analysis ......................................................................... 18 Research Design ............................................................................................................................... 22 Procedure ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Chapter 4: Senator Martha Hughes Cannon (1896) ............................................................................. 27 Voter Registration ............................................................................................................................ 28 Coverage Specific to Martha Hughes Cannon ................................................................................. 30 Newspaper Bias ................................................................................................................................ 31 Women in the Elections.................................................................................................................... 32 Candidate Information ...................................................................................................................... 32 Election Results ................................................................................................................................ 33 Chapter 5: Senator Reva Beck Bosone (1948) ..................................................................................... 35 Election Ballots and Race Information ............................................................................................. 35 Non-Campaign Newspaper Mentions .............................................................................................. 38 Rallies ............................................................................................................................................... 39 Political Advertisements ..................................................................................................................