Are media covering while women are campaigning? A study of Mexican municipal elections

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies on media coverage have found that female nominees receive unequal treatment regarding their visibility and portrayal of their agendas. To assess how media cover women, municipal elections in Mexico are analysed. By focusing on municipal elections, this research advocate for the study of local phenomena and their discourses. The study questions whether women have received equal media exposure compared to men. The research analyses how women are portrayed and explores how print news media present stories about women and the narratives included in their stories. Findings suggest that female and male candidates are equally visible, but men are singled out more often as likely winners. News reports focus mostly on ‘male’ issues, but coverage does not focus disproportionally on female candidates’ personality traits.