Abstract
This study investigates the media coverage of the 2023 South Tyrolean provincial elections through an analysis of 609 articles from different newspapers (Dolomiten, Alto Adige) as well as from an online news portal (Salto.bz). Despite divergent topic covered in these publications, a notable convergence exists in the prioritization of key issues across the newspapers. The representation of women in the election discourse appears low, suggesting potential gender-related gaps in coverage. Additionally, while migration emerges as a significant theme, the analysis reveals a predominantly negative framing of the issue, indicating potential bias in reporting. These findings contribute to develop our understanding of media influence on public perceptions of politics during elections. The results emphasize the need for a more detailed analysis of thematic priorities and biases in major South Tyrolean media.