The same-sex marriage debate: A frame analysis of the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times coverage of proposition 8 in 2008-2009

This study investigated the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times' newspaper coverage surrounding Proposition 8 that proposed to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman, on the California state election ballot. Coverage was analyzed from July 2nd, 2008, when the measure was added to the California e lection ballot through November 4th, 2009, one year after Proposition 8 was voted into the state constitution. This thesis investigated the debate surrounding the proposition and how it was framed in both newspapers. The articles examined portrayed the story focusing on either the political issue or the moral issue of the debate. The findings in this thesis showed similarity in coverage from both newspapers. Balanced coverage was shown throughout the articles, however greater coverage was given to the argument that Proposition 8 removed fundamental rights from a minority group