Dundee-based newspapers' portrayal of Scottish independence during the run-up to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

The dataset is the outcome of a content analysis of newspaper articles (n=275) published by Dundee-based newspapers The Courier and Evening Telegraph during the run-up to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum (from the launch of the White Paper on 26/11/2013 to the referendum on 18/09/2014). The purpose of the study was to explore issue-specific valence frames within the articles. To that end, the content analysis focussed on two key attributes: first, the dominant theme of the article; and second, the valence (bias) towards Scottish independence (operationalised as the combination of tone and leaning).