Abstract
This study developed a content-based technique of assessing fairness and balance of newspaper coverage of controversial issues and applied it to 259 stories on eighteen issues appearing in eighteen newspapers during February 1991. The study found that on average one side dominated at least three of the six story qualities assessed. Only 7% of the stories were evenly balanced, while more than 50% of the stories had at least four of the six story qualities dominated by one side. Three issues involving abortion and two involving local schools were the most imbalanced. The Gulf War debate was the most imbalanced national issue.
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