Media Framing of Pandemics: A Case Study of the Coverage of COVID-19 in Elite Newspapers of Pakistan

Abstract

Considering the outbreak of Corona pandemic as a case study the article explores the dominant frames used in the coverage of COVID-19 pandemic by the Pakistani English e papers. The media framing is analyzed through qualitative inductive content analysis of the COVID-19 related news stories published in the e papers of Dawn and Express Tribune. Three broad themes emerged as a result of the inductive content analysis which included Scientific Development related to Pandemic; Scale of Pandemic; Social and Economic Impact of Pandemic. The results indicated that the coverage by the e papers was mostly aimed at educating the readers; difficult jargon related to medicine was mostly avoided and where the use of jargon was unavoidable it was properly explained. Most of the stories were developing in nature as the pandemic itself was unfolding at a very fast pace during the selected time frame. The news related information was mostly compiled in a manner which was meant to both warn the readers and the policy makers about the growing scale of the pandemic. The coverage also provided recommendations for the revival of economic and social activities which were halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.