Framing infectious diseases: a comparative analysis of Chinese news coverage of SARS and ebola

Abstract

This study consists of a comparative framing analysis about how the leading news agency in China, Xinhua, covered SARS and Ebola—the infectious diseases that originated inside and outside China, respectively. As part of my study, I examined the prevalence of six frames used by Xinhua in its 250 SARS stories and 250 Ebola stories, and I compared the differences in frequencies of each frame. In terms of the popular themes that Xinhua used in the coverage of both SARS and Ebola, SARS stories covered economics, responses by domestic government(s), reassurance, and confidence more frequently than Ebola stories did, whereas Ebola stories covered health effects and responses by international governments more frequently than SARS stories did. In terms of my qualitative results, Xinhua deemphasized the severity of SARS and emphasized the severity of Ebola. Citations from the trusted or powerful sources are often used in Xinhua’s stories about SARS and Ebola. In stories about both diseases, Xinhua casted positive light on the Chinese government in the descriptions about the prevention, control, and management of the government to the diseases. Results are discussed from the perspectives of the news environment, the political context in China, and China’s emerging role in the global political economy. The study also offers a deep look about how a collectivism society foster and protect the public image of the government among citizens and keep the society stable when dealing with a potential crises related to public health.