Empirical review on news paper coverage of drugs abuse pdf
Here is a sample empirical review on newspaper coverage of drug abuse:
Title: An Empirical Review of Newspaper Coverage of Drug Abuse: A Content Analysis
Abstract:
This study examines the coverage of drug abuse in newspapers, analyzing the types of stories, sources, and language used to report on the issue. A content analysis of 100 newspaper articles from three major newspapers in the United States was conducted. The results show that drug abuse is often reported in sensationalized and stigmatizing ways, with a focus on crime and punishment rather than treatment and prevention. The majority of sources cited were law enforcement officials and government agencies, with few quotes from experts in the field of addiction or individuals with personal experiences of drug abuse. The language used was often emotive and moralistic, with words like "addict" and "junkie" used to describe individuals struggling with drug addiction. The findings suggest that newspaper coverage of drug abuse may perpetuate negative stereotypes and stigmatize individuals struggling with addiction, rather than promoting a nuanced understanding of the issue.
Introduction:
Drug abuse is a significant public health issue, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Despite its importance, the media's coverage of drug abuse is often criticized for being sensationalized, stigmatizing, and lacking in depth. This study aims to examine the coverage of drug abuse in newspapers, analyzing the types of stories, sources, and language used to report on the issue.
Methodology:
A content analysis of 100 newspaper articles from three major newspapers in the United States was conducted. The articles were selected based on their relevance to drug abuse, with a focus on stories that reported on drug-related crime, treatment, and prevention efforts. The articles were analyzed using a coding scheme that examined the following variables:
- Types of stories: crime, treatment, prevention, and other (e.g. feature stories, opinion pieces)
- Sources: law enforcement officials, government agencies, experts in the field of addiction, individuals with personal experiences of drug abuse, and other (e.g. politicians, celebrities)
- Language: emotive, moralistic, neutral, and other (e.g. sensationalized, technical)
Results:
The results of the content analysis show that:
- The majority of articles (60%) focused on crime and punishment, with a focus on drug-related arrests, convictions, and sentencing.
- The majority of sources cited were law enforcement officials (40%) and government agencies (30%), with few quotes from experts in the field of addiction (10%) or individuals with personal experiences of drug abuse (5%).
- The language used was often emotive and moralistic, with words like "addict" and "junkie" used to describe individuals struggling with drug addiction.
- Only 20% of articles mentioned treatment options or prevention efforts, and these were often presented as secondary to the focus on crime and punishment.
Discussion:
The findings of this study suggest that newspaper coverage of drug abuse may perpetuate negative stereotypes and stigmatize individuals struggling with addiction, rather than promoting a nuanced understanding of the issue. The focus on crime and punishment, and the lack of representation of experts in the field of addiction or individuals with personal experiences of drug abuse, may contribute to a lack of understanding and empathy for individuals struggling with drug addiction. The emotive and moralistic language used may also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and stigma.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the need for more nuanced and balanced coverage of drug abuse in newspapers. By including a wider range of sources and perspectives, and by focusing on treatment and prevention efforts, newspapers can help to promote a more informed and empathetic understanding of drug addiction.