Media Coverage of the 2014 West Virginia Elk River Chemical Spill: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining News Coverage of a Public Health Disaster. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas, Tracey L.; Kannaley, Kristie; Friedman, Daniela B.; Tanner, Andrea H.; Brandt, Heather M.; Spencer, S. Melinda
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 38:Number 5(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 574
• Page End: 600
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: media framing -- mixed methods -- disasters -- content analysis; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547016662656
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

This study examined how news media framed West Virginia's 2014 Elk River Chemical Spill, an industrial disaster that began a national discussion about chemical safety. A content analysis of media was conducted to explore disaster coverage. Additionally, in-depth stakeholder interviews were conducted to examine how audiences interpreted and evaluated media coverage. Both content analysis and interview findings highlighted the media's reliance on the attribution of responsibility news frame, which dominated media coverage, although the dominance of particular frames differed according to media channel and time period.