Print Media Coverage Research Articles

“Of Gods and Men”: Selected Print Media Coverage of Natural Disasters and Industrial Failures in Three Westminster Countries

This article examines selected print media coverage of a domestic natural disaster and domestic industrial failure in each of three Westminster countries: Australia, Canada, and the UK. It studies this coverage from several perspectives: the volume of coverage; the rate at which the articles were published; the tone of the headlines; and a content analysis of the perceived performance of key public and private institutions during and following the events. Its initial findings reveal that the natural disasters received more coverage than the industrial failures in each of the newspapers considered. There was also no significant difference in the publication rate across event type or newspaper. In each case, government was assessed at least as frequently and negatively as non-government actors, particularly during and following industrial failures. The manner in which government and non-government actors were assessed following these events suggests that, contrary to government claims that owners and operators of critical infrastructure (CI) are responsible for its successful operation, government in fact is “in the frame” as frequently as the industry owners and operators are. In addition, the negative assessments of governments following industrial failures in particular may prompt over-reaction by policy makers to industrial failures and under-reaction to natural disasters. This inconsistency is indeed ironic because the latter occur more often and cost more, both financially and socially. We reviewed 340 newspaper articles from three different newspapers: The Australian ’s coverage of the Canberra bushfires and the Waterfall train accident, The Globe and Mail ’s (Canada) coverage of Hurricane Juan and the de la Concorde overpass collapse, and The Daily Telegraph ’s (UK) coverage of the 2007 floods and the Potters Bar train wreck. Our sample size is small; our ability to compare across newspapers and countries limited. Further research is warranted.

Print Media Coverage of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Content Analysis of Three Major Korean Newspapers

The print media is still one of major sources for health-related information. To shed light on how the media accurately delivers information for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we searched the newspaper articles and analyzed their contents for accuracy in the description of symptoms, causes, and treatment of PTSD. The articles featuring PSTD were searched from the very first available to 2010 at on-line search systems of three major Korean newspapers. A total of 123 articles appeared and the first article appeared in 1984. The number of articles steadily increased till the early 2000s but we found the robust increase in the late 2000s. Among the mentioned symptoms of PTSD: re-experience (39%) was most common, followed by avoidance or numbing (28%) and hyperarousal (22%). Of the 29 articles mentioning treatment of PTSD, 13 mentioned psychotherapy only and 11 mentioned both psychotherapy and medication equally. However, the psychotherapies mentioned were non-specific and only five articles mentioned any empirically supported therapies. The number of articles on PTSD in Korean newspapers has continually increased during the last three decades. However, the quality of information on the treatment of PTSD was questionable.

From tobacco control research to policy: the example of smoke-free legislation in England

BackgroundTobacco control policies, such as legislation to make all enclosed public places and workplaces smoke free, are often highly contested. Despite growing evidence that smoke-free laws are effective in reducing secondhand smoke exposure and provide early health benefits, efforts to contest evidence for secondhand smoke and the effects of legislation are widespread. The Tobacco Control Research Group at Bath, UK, has produced a wide range of work assessing various effects of smoke-free legislation introduced on July 1, 2007, in England. We use our assessment of whether the legislation reduced hospital admissions for heart attacks as an example of our research. When this assessment was published in the British Medical Journal in 2010, several studies showing a decrease in admissions for heart attack after the introduction of smoke-free laws in other countries had already been published. In view of efforts to contest these findings by pro-tobacco bloggers, media articles questioning the credibility of tobacco control research, and spurious coverage of our work in national newspapers before it was published, we had two aims: to build on existing research by taking into account long-term trends; and to ensure the findings, when published, were accurately reported in the media and to policy makers. MethodsWe investigated the short-term effect of the English smoke-free legislation with numbers of emergency hospital admissions per week coded with a primary diagnosis of a myocardial infarction from July 1, 2002, to Sept 30, 2008, in all patients aged 18 years and older. The analysis was done with a segmented Poisson regression analysis that adjusted for long-term trends and other potential confounders. Cost savings to the NHS were calculated in collaboration with the London Health Observatory. For the media strategy, we prepared simple but accurate media briefings, which we disseminated to ten key parties that were likely to be contacted by the media. We held a press briefing at the Science Media Centre (London), and worked closely with them, Bath University press office, and the British Medical Journal. FindingsSmoke-free legislation was association with a 2·4% (95% CI −4·06 to −0·66) reduction in the number of emergency admissions for myocardial infarction. This reduction equates to 1200 fewer emergency admissions for myocardial infarction in the first year after legislation. The London Health Observatory estimated that £8·4 million has been saved in emergency hospital care for heart attacks in the first year since smoke-free legislation was introduced. The research received wide reaching, positive coverage in both print and broadcast media, featuring on the BBC, BBC Radio 4's Today programme, BBC Radio 5 Live, and local BBC radio stations. National newspapers that featured the story included The Times, Financial Times, Independent, and Daily Mail. Internationally, the research was reported by media in several countries, including the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. Our efforts to ensure that coverage was accurate were successful, despite later efforts by pro-tobacco bloggers to undermine it. InterpretationThis study adds to the growing evidence that smoke-free legislation leads to reductions in myocardial infarctions and builds on previous work by showing that such decreases are noted even when underlying reductions in admissions and other potential confounders are controlled for. With careful planning and communication, public health research in a contested field can be effectively and accurately disseminated. The research has subsequently contributed to the present government's tobacco control strategy. FundingDepartment of Health's Policy Research Programme.

Natural disaster news and communities of feeling: the affective interpellation of local and global publics

This paper engages with contemporary debates around the mediation of distant suffering by examining the ways in which news selection and reporting interpellate audiences into communities of feeling, in which affective belonging is structured by multimodal rhetorical strategies. Concepts drawn from discursive psychology and systemic-functional linguistics (appraisal theory) are used to show how news coverage of natural disasters positions audiences affectively. Analysis of Australian print media coverage of the 2009 Australian bushfires and the 2010 Haiti earthquake will be used to show how this process differs for local and international events. The paper contributes to debates on the “emotionalisation” of public culture by exploring the precise functions of affect within disaster reporting; in particular, how the production of various kinds of affects in the wake of a disaster shapes local and global publics.

SHARING THE PAIN OR SHOULDERING THE BURDEN?

This article draws on the concept of framing to analyse Irish print-media coverage of the public and private sectors in the first two years of Ireland's economic crisis, 2008–2010. It examines the underlying framing contest among institutional sources (Government, Opposition, trade unions, employers’ groups, and financial services) to win favourable coverage for their sectional interests and ideological arguments about the size, role and obligations of the State. The research is based on a content and cluster analysis of a substantial sample of articles from quality and mid-market Irish daily and Sunday newspapers. The article offers concluding comments on the explanatory robustness of the dominant news-model in Ireland in the face of a process on the scale of the economic crisis.

DEUS EX MACHINA OR E-SLAVE? PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF HEALTHCARE ROBOTICS IN THE GERMAN PRINT MEDIA

The news media plays a central role in providing information regarding new medical technologies and exerts an influence on their social perception, understanding, and assessments. This study, therefore, analyzes how healthcare robotics are portrayed in the German print news media. It examines whether the risks and opportunities of new medical technologies are presented in a balanced manner and investigates whether or not print media coverage of these technologies is affected by science-fiction discourse, in which robots appear mostly as a threat to humans. Ten years of German print media coverage (2000-2010) have been studied by means of systematic, standardized content analysis. Reporting focuses predominantly on beneficial advancements in medical practice and the advantages of robotics for patients, medical staff, and society. The results show that the dominant relationship between robots and humans that is transmitted in print media in medical contexts is positive, with robots mostly portrayed as assistants, colleagues, or even friends. Only a small number of articles report ethical questions and risks. In contrast to science-fiction discourse, the German print media provides a positive picture of robotics to the lay public.

“What Makes a Woman a Woman?” Versus “Our First Lady of Sport”

Caster Semenya, a South African female track and field star from rural Limpopo South Africa, won the IAAF 2009 World Championships in the 800-meter event. She was then subjected to “gender-verification” testing. Media reports, especially in the United States, underscored that Semenya underwent gender-verification testing because of her “deep voice, muscular build, and rapid improvement in times.” Combining content and textual analysis, we conducted a comparative media analysis of the Caster Semenya controversy in the United States and the South African print news media. Results demonstrated that the United States print media coverage framed the controversy in terms of Semenya’s “true” sex, “medicalized” debates about sex testing, and discussed the limitations of medical assessment of male and female bodies in sport. In comparison, South African print media sources focused on human rights, nationalism, and “strategic essentialism” to frame Semenya as a “true” woman defending the nation against a perceived racist assault. We conclude the article with transformative visions of sport rooted in postcolonial feminism and critical feminist studies.

Volume of print media coverage and diagnostic testing for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus during the early phase of the 2009 pandemic

BackgroundImpact of an infectious disease on public health diagnostic health services may be affected by the volume of media coverage which can amplify risk perception and increase demand for services. ObjectivesTo examine the association between volume of newspaper reports and laboratory testing for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in one English health region during the early phase of the pandemic. Study designCross-sectional retrospective review identifying newspaper articles on A(H1N1)pdm09 in major regional (sub-national) newspapers from 27 April 2009 through 5 July 2009, and comparing the weekly frequency of articles with the weekly number, and positivity rate, of laboratory-confirmed cases of A(H1N1)pdm09 during the same time period. ResultsA positive correlation (r=0.67; p=0.02) was seen between the volume of school-related articles and the number of laboratory-confirmed cases. Increased testing during the most intense period of the pandemic was mainly seen in school-aged children (5–15years) and adults (≥16years). Adults accounted for the highest number of tests, but had the lowest positivity rates, which were highest among school-aged children. As the volume of media coverage decreased this was followed one week later by a fall in the number of tests and positivity rates in each age-group. ConclusionThe results presented suggest a temporal association between volume of media reporting and number of laboratory tests. The increased volume of media reporting, in particular the intense school-related coverage, may have raised population concern leading to an increased demand for diagnostic testing. These results have potential implications for future pandemic preparedness planning.

Toward new understandings of human–animal relationships in sport: a study of Australian jumps racing

The importance of studying human–animal relationships and animal subjectivity is increasingly recognised by social and cultural geographers, particularly in agricultural pursuits. Little research, however, has been undertaken on animals in sport, resulting in a limited understanding of the perceptions and treatment of animals in society. To address this concern, we interrogate print media coverage of the construction and positioning of horses and humans in the controversial activity of jumps racing (National Hunt) in Australia between February 2008 and December 2009. We highlight the importance of seemingly contradictory human–animal relationships involving close frequent contact of some jumps racing advocates in contrast to the distanced, mediated relationships of jumps racing opponents. This paper highlights how the particular activity of jumps racing generates specific human–animal relationships and emphasises the need to reflect on the attitudes that shape and constrain human–animal relationships in varying contexts, including how these attitudes are mediated and the potential consequences for humans and other animals. These findings form the basis for a suggested research agenda that recognises the importance and articulation of proximity and mediation in human–animal relationships, particularly those focused on activities labelled ‘sport’.

‘Relax and take a deep breath’: Print media coverage of asthma and air pollution in the United States

The media are an important social actor in the construction of the public's understanding of the complex relationships between the environment and their health. This paper explores the print media's coverage of the relationship between asthma and air pollution, focusing on the portrayal of causal certainty between exposure to various forms of air pollution and the etiology and exacerbation of the disease. By examining twenty years of newspaper articles from the New York Timeş Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post, this paper presents findings on trends across time, within papers, and across key themes. Although the print media's coverage of asthma and its environmental correlates has increased over time, this paper finds relatively little coherence in whether asthma is portrayed as directly caused by air pollution or triggered by exposures. In terms of coverage, outdoor sources of air pollution are covered more frequently – but with less certainty in the discussion of specific relationships. This lack of coherence and specificity in the portrayal of asthma as an environmental disease may weaken regulators' ability to act in passing air pollution reforms by lowering the public's interest and concern.

CCS in the Media: An Analysis of International Coverage

Internationally, the level of public awareness of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology remains low. The mainstream media have a salient influence in shaping the debate on CCS's implementation and its risks. This paper presents the results of analysis of print media coverage of CCS worldwide between August 2009 and June 2010. A total of 1138 articles from the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum were reviewed and analysed. The majority of these articles were balanced or neutral in tone and lacking in technical detail. Fifteen key themes were identified. Two of these emerged the most frequently across all sources: CCS pilot and demonstration projects, and funding issues. This suggests a pattern of media curiosity over how financial support for CCS is provided and what results are occurring at pilot and demonstration efforts. Cross-regional key risks included: Time, cost, and implementation issues; technical validity; and storage capacity issues.

Comparing Climate Change Coverage in Canadian English and French-Language Print Media: Environmental Values, Media Cultures, and the Narration of Global Warming

This article compares how climate change is presented in English- and French-language print media in Canada. In recent years, climate change has become an increasingly divisive issue, with the media playing a central role in the promotion of competing claims and narratives in the public sphere. Using concepts from environmental sociology and the sociology of journalism, we examine content from six English- and two French-language newspapers from 2007-2008 (N=2,245), and find significant evidence of both convergence and divergence across the language divide. Among the most significant findings are differences in how complexity is handled: English outlets present diverse coverage that is highly compartmentalized, while the French newspapers present a narrower range of coverage but with thematically richer articles that better link climate change issues to the realms of culture, politics, and economy.

The Fervent, the Ambivalent, and the Great Gap Between: American Print-Media Coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

No longer is there a question of whether the football World Cup is an immense media spectacle; instead, the question now is how immense the World Cup is in the overall human experience. Despite all the global excitement related to the World Cup, the bulk of the general U.S. public is seemingly exempt from the charms of the World Cup. This article examines American media coverage of the 2010 FIFA Men’s World Cup. A qualitative content analysis identified 6 major themes in U.S. popular-press coverage of the event in South Africa, highlighting the communicative undercurrents of media discussions in order to comprehend the disconnect between American attitudes toward the World Cup and those held by the rest of the world. Themes of media discourse range from the increase in participation of Americans in soccer to resistance to mainstreaming soccer in popular culture to how soccer affects cultural literacy. Overall, the results indicate some enthusiasm for World Cup soccer while outlining stronger resistance for the sport in general. Potential future research projects related to this line of inquiry are also suggested.

How informative is the print media coverage of colorectal cancer?

To date there has been no assessment of the educational content of colorectal newspaper articles. We aimed to analyse articles in the print media concerning colorectal cancer for their public health content. Articles mentioning colorectal cancer in the top 10 UK newspapers were analysed over a 1-year period for their educational content. The number of articles mentioning 'red flag' symptoms, celebrity connections or specific cancer charities was recorded. Of the 349 articles identified, 146 were not relevant. Of the remaining 203 articles, 62 (30%) were concerned with celebrities with colon cancer, 13 (6.4%) made reference to red flag symptoms and 14 (6.9%) mentioned cancer charities by name. About 13% of newspaper articles have any educational content. If this increased, the general public might benefit.

News coverage of controversial emerging technologies: Evidence for the issue attention cycle in print and online media

This study analyzes the issue attention cycle for print and online media coverage of a scientific publication examining the deaths of Chinese factory workers due to lung damage from chronic exposure to nanoparticles. The results of the nanoparticle study, published in 2009, embody news values that would make the study a prime candidate for press coverage, namely, novelty, negativity, controversy, and potential widespread impact. Nevertheless, mentions of the event in traditional English-language print media were nearly nonexistent. Online media, on the other hand, gave the story greater coverage. This case study exemplifies why online media may not be bound to the same issue attention cycle that print media are for controversial scientific events.

News coverage of controversial emerging technologies: Evidence for the issue attention cycle in print and online media

This study analyzes the issue attention cycle for print and online media coverage of a scientific publication examining the deaths of Chinese factory workers due to lung damage from chronic exposure to nanoparticles. The results of the nanoparticle study, published in 2009, embody news values that would make the study a prime candidate for press coverage, namely, novelty, negativity, controversy, and potential widespread impact. Nevertheless, mentions of the event in traditional English-language print media were nearly nonexistent. Online media, on the other hand, gave the story greater coverage. This case study exemplifies why online media may not be bound to the same issue attention cycle that print media are for controversial scientific events.

Jumping to Conclusions? Media Coverage of Jumps Racing Debates in Australia

Abstract Should jumps racing be banned? This paper examines print media coverage of the future of “jumps racing” in 21 Australian newspapers between February 2008 and December 2009, a period of intense debate over its future due to high-profile incidents of horse deaths, campaigning by animal activists, and increased media coverage. In November 2009, Racing Victoria Limited banned jumps racing following the 2010 season but later opened the possibility of jumps racing in 2011 and beyond. The research finds that there is significant variation in support for, and opposition to, jumps racing in different newspapers; that there is sometimes a discrepancy between the perspectives of articles and letters on this issue; and the importance of jumps racing to particular small cities is reflected in the media coverage. While recent events and mounting public pressure may eventually contribute to the demise of steeplechasing and hurdling in Victoria, the termination of horse racing is not a foregone conclusion.

Liberal States and Print Media Coverage of Global Advocacy Events: The Case of the UN Beijing Conference for Women

Abstract UN conferences and summits have played a critical role in bringing local activists’ claims to international audiences. One might assume that UN conferences, like other fora of “information politics,” rely on the global media to convey advocates’ messages. Yet, extensive research on U.S. media portrayals of UN women’s conferences, 1975–1995, have not found this to be the case. To the contrary, U.S. press coverage of these conferences follows a seemingly universal pattern of negative representations of female political candidates and public officials in the media. However, since there are sharp national differences in social policies related to women, we question whether media in other liberal democracies follow the U.S. pattern for covering UN women’s conferences or reflect the more variable pattern of diverse national policies. Comparing elite media from the United States, Canada, and Britain, we find evidence suggesting variable coverage across countries.

“Body bags ready”: Print media coverage of avian influenza in Australia

In 2006 the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus received considerable media coverage in Australia, as it did in many other countries. It is often argued that the media sensationalizes health crises, and experts cautioned about the risk of panic as a result of fear of avian influenza. The purpose of the present study was to systematically analyze Australian print media coverage of avian influenza in 2006 and to examine whether this coverage served the purpose of informing, rather than alarming, the general public. For the period January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, 20 Australian newspaper titles were monitored for coverage of avian influenza. The identified articles were analyzed using aspects of protection motivation theory for theoretical direction to determine whether there were any consistent themes or perspectives in the coverage. A total of 850 articles were identified for analysis. Concerning vulnerability, 46% of articles reported the incidence of human cases, with 24% noting that avian influenza was a potential threat to Australia. The most common severity theme was “deadly” with over 50% of mentions, followed by “pandemic” with 35%. Only 11% of articles referred to any form of self-protection. We found that a considerable proportion of the articles reporting on avian influenza were framed in a way that had the potential to incite fear and panic amongst the public; the intensity of media coverage reduced over time; and, of particular concern, that there was little media coverage that focused on protective or preventative issues. Whether an influenza pandemic eventuates or not, it is prudent for governments and health authorities to continually develop appropriate resources and strategies to prepare the health system and the general public to respond to current, and future, infectious disease risks.

Eulogy Rhetoric as a Political Coping Mechanism: The Aftermath of Proposition 8

This essay draws upon previous research which suggests that devastating political loss may be as psychologically traumatic as experiencing sudden death. We explore how those who experience this kind of political defeat can make sense of it by employing the coping strategies found in eulogistic rhetoric to make sense of the loss and chart a way forward in the changed reality. Specifically we examine how LGBT print media provided a forum for critical dialogue that performed eulogistic functions following the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which outlawed same-sex marriage by amending the state's constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. We examine how this postelection print media coverage helped the engaged audience to make sense of the disappointment, exclusion and failure engendered by the election results.