Media Framing and Social Movements

Abstract

In their study of media content, mass communication scholars commonly rely on Entman's or similar definitions of framing, that put emphasis on the selection of certain aspects of reality, to bring forward certain interpretation of an issue in terms of problem definitions, potential solutions, and moral evaluations. Much of the study of media framing of political issues centers around three questions: (i) how is the issue framed? (ii) how can we explain variation in framing – both over time and cross‐sectionally? and (iii) what are the effects of media framing on public opinion and policymaking? These questions are also of clear relevance to the study of social movements.