A Content Analysis of Online News Coverage of Lia Olguta Vasilescu during the 2012 Regional Elections:

Abstract

This study used the method of content analysis to examine how Lia Olguta Vasilescu was portrayed in online news articles published by the „Gazeta de Sud” newspaper during the 2012 Oltenia Regional Election. The study combined research on gender stereotypes, political elections and an inductive analysis of election coverage to derive at three dominant frames: gender stereotype, political activity and horserace. The three frames were used to determine how Lia Olguta Vasilescu’s unprecedented decision to run for Dolj county’s mayor position elections was received by the media.