1. Live Tweeting a Presidential Primary Debate: Kyle Heim Assistant Professor Seton Hall University Email: krheim@gmail.com International Symposium on Online Journalism April 18, 2015 Comparing the Content of Twitter Posts and News Coverage

3. News coverage of presidential politics Three stages of news coverage: 1960s: Emphasis on candidates’ policy statements 1960s: Emphasis on candidates’ policy statements 1970s: “Strategy” coverage 1970s: “Strategy” coverage 1988 onward: Media-focused “metacoverage” 1988 onward: Media-focused “metacoverage” Shift toward strategy, metacoverage blamed for increasing political cynicism

4. Research questions How did the Twitter stream from the Iowa primary debate compare with news coverage and the debate itself in the discussion of policy and character? How did the Twitter stream from the Iowa primary debate compare with news coverage and the debate itself in the discussion of policy and character? How did the Twitter stream from the Iowa primary debate compare with news coverage in the use of strategy coverage and media- focused metacoverage? How did the Twitter stream from the Iowa primary debate compare with news coverage in the use of strategy coverage and media- focused metacoverage?

5. Dec. 10, 2011, Iowa GOP primary debate Sample of texts: Debate transcript Debate transcript Newspaper, wire service coverage Newspaper, wire service coverage 3,032 tweets 3,032 tweets Methods: Quantitative centering resonance analysis (CRA) to identify most influential words Quantitative centering resonance analysis (CRA) to identify most influential words Qualitative textual analysis Qualitative textual analysis

6. Debate transcript Most influential words included … Policy-oriented words: issue issue Palestinian Palestinian money money tax tax

7. News coverage Most influential words included … Strategy-oriented words: poll poll rival rival attack attack Policy-oriented words: health, care health, care Palestinian, Israel Palestinian, Israel economy economy

8. Twitter discussion Most influential words included … References to Mitt Romney’s bet offer: tenthousand tenthousand dollar dollar Media-oriented words: Diane, Sawyer Diane, Sawyer ABC, #ABCdebate ABC, #ABCdebate

9. Results Discussion of policy: Policy was central to the debate and news coverage but NOT on Twitter. Policy was central to the debate and news coverage but NOT on Twitter. However, Twitter users tried to raise policy issues not being addressed in the debate. However, Twitter users tried to raise policy issues not being addressed in the debate.

10. Results Discussion of character: Twitter discussion was dominated by Mitt Romney’s $10,000 bet offer and what it said about Romney’s character. Twitter discussion was dominated by Mitt Romney’s $10,000 bet offer and what it said about Romney’s character.

11. Results Use of strategy coverage: Twitter discussion was dominated by strategy. Twitter discussion was dominated by strategy. Debate was framed as a boxing match, circus, pageant. Debate was framed as a boxing match, circus, pageant.

12. Results Use of media-focused metacoverage: Twitter discussion focused heavily on the role of the ABC moderators. Twitter discussion focused heavily on the role of the ABC moderators.

13. Implications Twitter less substantive than news coverage (emphasis on strategy over policy) Twitter less substantive than news coverage (emphasis on strategy over policy) Reliance on Twitter could increase political cynicism Reliance on Twitter could increase political cynicism Twitter not a substitute for news coverage; “gatekeepers” and “curators” needed Twitter not a substitute for news coverage; “gatekeepers” and “curators” needed

14. Implications Twitter discussion as a critique of the staged, artificial nature of political debates Twitter discussion as a critique of the staged, artificial nature of political debates Twitter discussion as backlash against political agenda driven by candidates, news media Twitter discussion as backlash against political agenda driven by candidates, news media

15. Kyle Heim, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Communication and the Arts Seton Hall University Email: krheim@gmail.com Twitter: @krheim