Here is an overview of the content analysis process we follow.

Timeframe of our study: Because some CSUs follow a semester schedule while others operate quarterly, we bound the study with these consistent dates: All Sports or Opinion (minus Letters to the Editor) pieces published between April 4-April 15.

How we determined which student newspapers to study:

We first looked at the list of 16 CSU campuses currently publishing online student newspapers, as recognized officially by the CSU system: California State University Bakersfield (The CSUB Runner Online); California State University Chico (The Orion); California State University East Bay (The Pioneer); California State University Fresno (The Collegian); California State University Fullerton (The Daily Titan); Humboldt State University (The Lumberjack); California State University Long Beach (Online 49er); California State University Long Beach (The Long Beach Union); California State University Northridge (Daily Sundial); California State Polytechnic University Pomona (The Poly Post); California State University Sacramento (The State Hornet Online); San Diego State University (The Daily Aztec); San Francisco State University (Golden Gate Xpress); San Jose State University (The Spartan Daily); California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Mustang Daily); and California State University San Marcos (The Pride Online).

OMISSIONS from this list:

• Both entries from Long Beach because the Online 49er is outdated and the Long Beach Union Weekly does not have the primary tabs of sports, opinion, etc.
• The State Hornet from CSU Sacramento for lack of a main opinion tab.
• The Spartan Daily from San Jose State because it is archived as downloads and lack main tabs.

CORRECTIONS to the list:

• The student newspaper of California State University San Marcos is currently the Cougar Chronicle.