You, M., Joo, J., Park, E., Noh, G. Y., & Ju, Y. (2017). Emerging infectious disease content in newspaper editorials: Public health concern or leadership issue?. Science Communication, 39(3), 313-337.

Abstract

We conducted a content analysis of newspaper editorials on the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak in Korea. Subject matter, social and personal efficacy information, and affective tone were evaluated using a mixed-methods approach. An analysis of 241 publications with the acronym “MERS” revealed that public health was the most salient, followed by leadership/governance, coping, medical system, and economic consequences. Societal efficacy information was more frequent than personal efficacy information, and a negative tone was predominant. However, leadership became the most frequent in the later stages. Personal efficacy information decreased over time and across content with a negative tone.

Keywords: infectious disease, newspaper editorials, subject matter, efficacy action, affective tone, crisis stage