2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Paper Geographic Media Agenda Setting: Spatial Proximity to theUS-Mexico Border and Local News Coverage ofImmigration IssuesJohanna L. Dunaway, Rice UniversityOverview: This paper addresses geographic context and mediacoverage of political issues. It focuses specifically onimmigration, and examines how proximity to the US Mexicoborder influences local media attention to this and other borderrelated issues.Paper T.V. Advertisements, Racial Issues, and The 2000 and 2002Congressional ElectionsCraig F. Frizzell, University of Wisconsin, MilwaukeeOverview: Symbolic racism theory is tested by examining theracial issue content of television advertisements broadcastduring the 2002 congressional elections. Third parties areexpected to be more likely to broadcast racial ads thancandidates themselves.Paper The Face of Reality: Minorities and the Network NewsKimberly Gross, George Washington UniversityOverview: This paper presents the results of a content analysisexamining the portrayal of racial minorities in television newsas well as a series of interviews with reporters and producersdesigned to explore why the news coverage looks as it does.Disc. Gustavo Cano, University of Nebraska, Omaha24-12 MEDIA EFFECTS AND EUROPEANNATIONAL ELECTIONSRoomChairPaperTBA, Sat 10:30 amAndrew Paul Williams, Virginia Tech UniversityThe Impact of Television Advertising in the 2005 GermanNational ElectionLynda Lee Kaid, University of FloridaMonica Postelnicu, University of FloridaOverview: This paper reports the results of an experimentalstudy of the effects of exposure to the political party broadcastsof the CDU and the SPD parties in the 2005 German nationalelection.Paper Effects of the TV Debate on Vote Decisions in the 2005German ElectionJurgen Maier, Kaiserslautern University of TechnologyMichaela Maier, University of Koblenz, LaundauOverview: The experimental study tested whether exposure tothe television debate between Gerhardt Schroeder (SPD) andAngela Merkel (CDU) in the 2005 German election resulted inmore rational or more personalized voting decisions.Paper Audience Framing of Terrorism in the 2004 U.S. and 2005U.K. CampaignsSarah Oates, University of GlasgowAndrew Paul Williams, Virginia Tech UniversityOverview: This study used surveys and focus groups todetermine the impact of the terrorism issue on the American andBritish electorates in the most recent national elections in eachcountry (2004 and 2005, respectively).PaperDisc.News Coverage of Elections in Sweden and BritainJesper Stromback, Mid-Sweden UniversityAdam Shehata, Mid-Sweden UniversityOverview: This study compared the episodic and thematicframing of the most recent national elections in Sweden (2002)and Britain (2005), illustrating the presence of structural bias inmedia coverage.Lynda Lee Kaid, University of FloridaSarah Oates, University of GlasgowJesper Stromback, Mid-Sweden University25-9 DIVERSE ENDS, DIVERSE MEANS:WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS ANDORGANIZATIONSRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 10:30 amLee Ann Banaszak, Pennsylvania State UniversityCovering Agenda Shifts of the US Women's RightsMovementJanet K. Boles, Marquette UniversityOverview: The focus is upon the increasing importance ofissues of race, class, and diversity as well as international issues.The substantive content and amount of coverage in Ms.Magazine, 1972-2005, of these issues are examined.Decisive HousewivesJamie P. Pimlott, University of FloridaKathryn Oates, University of FloridaOverview: Conservative women have been a formidable forcein the political spectrum for several decades, yet scholars havenot dedicated time to their efforts. Instead, “women in politics”research has largely focused on the liberal feminist movement,tracingTurning Sad into Mad: Grief and the Mobilization ofMotherhoodElizabeth A. Bennion, Indiana University, South BendLaura E. Roach, Indiana University, South BendOverview: A comparative case study of the groups MamasAgainst Violence and Mothers Against Drunk Driving thatexplores the role of grief as a catalyst for political action bymothers from various racial, economic and politicalbackgrounds.Representing Women: Women's Organizations, Parties andPolicy in Print MediaSirje Laurel Weldon, Purdue UniversityMaura P. Bahu, Purdue UniversityOverview: In this paper we examine women’s organizations’efforts to influence public discussion on policy issues,specifically in two localities, Chicago and Boston.Lynn Kamenitsa, Northern Illinois UniversityMaryann Barakso, American University25-12 PERSPECTIVES ON GENDERED PUBLICPOLICYRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, 8Sat 10:30 amSusan G. Mezey, Loyola University, ChicagoState Equal Rights Amendments: Evaluating theirEffectivenessLinda Wharton, Richard Stockton College of New JerseyOverview: This paper evaluates the effectiveness of state equalrights amendments in protecting women’s equality, focusing ontheir application in areas in which federal constitutionalprotection has been increasingly limited in scope.Survey Says: Title IX and The Dept. of Education's EmailCompliance SurveyLeanne Doherty, Simmons CollegeOverview: This paper discusses the ramifications that athleticinterest email surveys could have on the strength of Title IX, theonly public policy that protects women's sports, as well asattempt to show that this technique for policy compliance isinvalid.Citizenship, Gender and Military ServiceMary Lou Kendrigan, Lansing Community CollegeOverview: Feminists use the concept of "first-class citizenship"to win improvements for military women. While increasedopportunities for women in the military is desirable, what kindof lessons in democratic citizenship does the military offer?State and Federal Breastfeeding Legislation: Advantagesand Limitations of an Individual Rights FrameworkMaureen R. Oakley, Mount St. Mary's UniversityOverview: This paper examines the context in which states andthe federal government have considered and adoptedbreastfeeding legislation. The advantages and limitations ofapplying an individual rights framework to the issuebreastfeeding are explored.Gwyneth I. Williams, Webster University209