Startseite From the Podium to the Press: Coverage of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Convention Address
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From the Podium to the Press: Coverage of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Convention Address

  • Sean Ewing EMAIL logo und Julia R. Azari
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 28. April 2025
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Abstract

Kamala Harris’s nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention was both unusual and historic. Not only was she the first woman of color to be nominated for the presidency by a major party, but she also emerged as the party’s choice without having competed in any nominating contests, an outcome made possible by Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the candidacy. National nominating conventions are important opportunities for parties and candidates to draw media attention, and this coverage shapes the political impact of conventions. This was especially important in 2024, given the shortened nature of the Harris campaign. Using a sample of newspapers and TV news programs, we find that the media over emphasized controversial issues such as the war in Gaza and immigration while under emphasizing other substantive policy areas such as the economy. In addition, the coverage tended to amplify attention to so-called “women’s issues” and downplay Harris’s patriotic appeals. These findings highlight the divergence between what the candidate emphasized and what the media reported, with important implications for public perception of the campaign and Harris’s policy priorities.


Corresponding author: Sean Ewing, Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, E-mail:

Appendix

Table 6:

Summary of topics by newspaper outlet (percent)

Topic New York Times (%) The Washington Post (%) The Wall Street (%) Total (%)
Personal bio 42.86 % 46.67 % 25.00 % 41.86 %
Anti-Trump future intent 14.29 % 53.33 % 75.00 % 39.53 %
Foreign policy – Israel/Gaza 35.71 % 33.33 % 25.00 % 37.21 %
Anti-Trump threat to democracy 28.57 % 40.00 % 25.00 % 34.88 %
Patriotism 28.57 % 33.33 % 25.00 % 30.23 %
Foreign policy – other 28.57 % 20.00 % 25.00 % 20.93 % %
Lawyer bio 21.43 % 20.00 % 0.00 % 20.93 %
Foreign policy – Gaza sympathy 21.43 % 13.33 % 0.00 % 18.60 %
Foreign policy – Israel support 21.43 % 20.00 % 0.00 % 18.60 %
Social issues – abortion 14.29 % 6.67 % 0.00 % 13.95 %
Middle class 21.43 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 13.95 %
Anti-Trump abortion 0.00 % 33.33 % 25.00 % 13.95 %
Foreign policy – Ukraine 7.14 % 13.33 % 25.00 % 11.63 %
Economy – opportunity 7.14 % 0.00 % 75.00 % % 9.30 %
Social issues – other 14.29 % % 0.00 % 0.00 % 9.30 %
Economy – taxes 7.14 % % 6.67 % 0.00 % 6.98 % %
Anti-Trump character 7.14 % 13.33 % 0.00 % 6.98 %
Economy – business 0.00 % 0.00 % 50.00 % 4.65 %
Democracy 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 2.33 %
Democracy – rule of law 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 2.33 %
Table 7:

Summary of topics by TV news outlet (percent).

Topic ABC News (%) CBS News (%) Fox News (%) CNN (%) Total (%)
Personal bio 50.00 % 20.00 % 12.50 % 57.89 % 42.11 %
Foreign policy – Israel/Gaza 16.67 % 60.00 % 37.50 % 42.11 % 39.47 %
Immigration 0.00 % 40.00 % 25.00 % 36.84 % 28.95 %
Lawyer bio 16.67 % 20.00 % 25.00 % 31.58 % 26.32 %
Foreign policy – other 50.00 % 0.00 % 25.00 % 21.05 % 23.68 %
Foreign policy – Gaza sympathy 0.00 % 0.00 % 25.00 % 31.58 % 21.05 %
Foreign policy – Israel support 0.00 % 0.00 % 37.50 % 26.32 % 21.05 %
Social issues – abortion 0.00 % 20.00 % 0.00 % 31.58 % 18.42 %
Patriotism 16.67 % 0.00 % 12.50 % 21.05 % 15.79 %
Anti-Trump future intent 33.33 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 21.05 % 15.79 %
Anti-Trump abortion 33.33 % 0.00% 0.00 % 21.05 % 15.79 %
Economy – taxes 0.00 % 20.00 % 12.50 % 21.05 % 15.79 %
Anti-Trump threat to democracy 33.33 % 20.00 % 0.00 % 10.53 % 13.16 %
Anti-Trump character 0.00 % 0.00 % 12.50 % 21.05 % 13.16 %
Foreign policy – military 16.67 % 0.00 % 25.00 % 10.53 % 13.16 %
Economy – opportunity 0.00 % 20.00 % 12.50 % 10.53 % 10.53 %
Middle class 0.00 % 0.00 % 12.50 % 15.79 % 10.53 %
Foreign policy – Ukraine 0.00 % 20.00 % 12.50 % 10.53 % 10.53 %
Social issues – other 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 15.79 % 7.89 %
Democracy 0.00 % 20.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 2.63 %
Democracy – rule of law 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Economy – business 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %

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Published Online: 2025-04-28

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