The Africa the media showed us: A visual content analysis of the 2014 Ebola epidemic

Abstract

Via content analysis, this study investigates the visual portrayal of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea in US newspapers during the 2014 Ebola epidemic. Salience of identified frames and tone is assessed relative to findings identified in existing literature. Data were collected from the New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Dallas Morning News. Findings suggest coverage did not favour victim-only frames, relative to other types of frames, whose visual tone became marginally less negative once Ebola patients were in the United States. Such results contribute to literature regarding African media studies, public perception of foreign affairs and press coverage of international health epidemics.