What determines international disaster coverage in the US news media?. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jeong, Yongick; Lee, Sun Young
• Is Part Of: Journalism. Volume 20:Number 12(2019)
• Page Start: 1593
• Page End: 1610
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Deviance -- geopolitics -- international disaster news -- social significance -- US new media; Journalism -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 070.405
• DOI: 10.1177/1464884917737212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-8849

Abstract

This study examined the influence of a variety of factors on the news coverage of international disasters occurring between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2013 in 10 representative US news outlets over a 4-week period. The results showed that the severity of a disaster, as measured by death toll and financial losses, was the most consistent and significant factor influencing international disaster coverage in the US news media. Various geopolitical factors, such as trade relations with the United States, distance from the United States, gross domestic product, military expenditure, and political rights, also came into play, but the effects of these varied over time.