Queer political news : election-year coverage of the lesbian and gay communities on National Public Radio, 1992-2000

K. Barnhurst

The American press no longer reports events but explains them, inadvertently enhancing the cultural authority of journalists. To discover how a prominent news provider exercises influence over political discussion, this case study analyzes National Public Radio (NPR) political coverage of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) communities. Reports increased in length and number during elections and the tone of LGBT reporting grew more positive than other coverage. As NPR manufactured news content more routinely and professionally, attention shifted from ordinary citizens to officialdom. Increased coverage was a mixed blessing, becoming more polarized as journalists balanced LGBT concerns against extreme right-wing attacks.Key Words: elections _ gay _ homosexual _ journalism _ lesbian _ news _ NPR _ politics _ professionalism _ radio _ reporting _ sources