COVERAGE OF FEMALE SPOUSES OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN ONLINE NEWS

ABSTRACT 

This study examines the coverage in online news portals of female spouses of presidential candidates during the campaign prior to the 2016 general elections. The study sought to uncover the ways in which the female spouses were portrayed through the lens of framing theory, gender and social constructivism. The study used qualitative research approach and employed content analysis as the design with document analysis as the data collection and analysis technique. A total of 1252 paragraphs were analysed for this study from Citifmonline, Myjoyonline, Ghanaweb, Peacefmonline, Graphiconline and Pulsegh over a period of four months from September 2016 to December 2016. Through content analysis, the findings showed that the coverage of the female spouses was predominantly positive and gendered. The female spouses were framed as active in politics and policy discourses, assertive, motivational on issues on the campaign trail. The researcher concludes that the media gave the female spouses adequate coverage in terms of quantity and quality. However, the framing reflected elements of gender as a constructed social norm or reality. Finally, the female spouses were not presented negatively neither were the media insensitive in their reportage instead they were portrayed as either subverting the traditional gender roles or sticking to the status quo.