Bradley C. Freeman

Presidential Position: Press Coverage and Portrayals of William J. Clinton and George W. Bush. Bradley C. Freeman

It is not easy to avoid news about the President of the United States. Whether it is in the content of a daily newspaper, a report on the radio, a nightly television newscast, or a late-night-talk-show host¿s comedic monologue, the office of the presidency and its holder receive constant media coverage and attention. Be it through direct media reports or indirect conversation with friends, the average American is likely to know of the president and his actions¿whether they have an inclination to follow politics or not. This book examines news coverage of the President of the United States in three newspapers and three newsmagazines using a predetermined set of variables to examine the portrayals of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in these print media outlets just after their election and during their first 100 days in office (the so-called honeymoon period). Further, the work examines the overall relationship between each President and the press ¿ looking at certain characteristics of each side in the relationship and the resultant nature of the news coverage that the public receives.