Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Journalism (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Journalism

Advisor/Mentor

Foster, Bobbie

Committee Member

Corrigan, Lisa

Second Committee Member

Tackett, Teresa

Keywords

agenda-setting theory; creative director; fashion; gender; hiring; journalism

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the agenda-setting and framing techniques used in coverage of the lack of women in creative director positions in the luxury fashion industry, considering the different levels of contracts and proximity each publication has to hiring gatekeepers. Using a multi-method study of content analysis and interviews with fashion media professionals, this study explores questions of how often these articles are published and whether independent and advertorial publications use different framing strategies when reporting on fashion industry accountability. Twenty-five editorial articles from seven different publications were included in the content analysis portion of the study. Additionally, four fashion media professionals who wrote articles reporting on the lack of diverse creative director hires were interviewed. The results of the study show that, as these articles are often trend-based, agenda-setting and framing is unavoidable but can look different based on the professional proximity of the publication to hiring gatekeepers. While this research focuses on fashion media, the results are also reflective of a larger lens of journalism, especially when publications have ties to political funders.

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