A content analytic comparison of news frames in English- and Spanish-language newspapers

Abstract

As the Hispanic population in the United States tops 40 million people, it is important to look at ways in which American and Latino cultures compare and interact. More than any other U.S. immigrant group, Hispanics rely on media in Spanish to get information and entertainment. This study compares the measurable elements of news frames in English- and Spanish-language newspapers to find differences in the ways Latino and White media portray issues related to immigration. A content analysis of 148 articles about the ad hoc border patrol group, the Minutemen, looks at framing elements identified in the literature. The findings show there are measurable differences between the frames employed by English- and Spanish-language newspapers. A lack of difference where difference was hypothesized was also discovered. Differences and similarities are explained by research of the newspapers, their regions and the roles of Spanish-language newspapers in the United States.