WHEN ALLS FAIR - SIGNS OF PARITY IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF FEMALE CANDIDATES

Studies of newspaper coverage of political campaigns have found gender -based patterns that disadvantage women. However, recent media portray als of female candidates seem to have been more positive. Have histori cal coverage patterns shifted? Analyzing statewide campaigns in 1994, I find much smaller coverage differences than in studies relying on pr e-1990 data. This indicates such a shift may be underway. Although sys tematic gender-based patterns are still detectable, they are not so gl aring as reported in previous studies, and not always to the disadvant age of female candidates.