Printing the Pandemic: An Analysis of H1N1 Vaccine News Coverage

This thesis examines print media coverage of the vaccination debate during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. It explores how the agenda-setting press in North America framed the benefits and risks of vaccination: the key themes it emphasized, the sources whose voices it privileged and those it overlooked, and the cultural and historical references it invoked. Although news headlines initially depicted an ominous message of doom, over time the framing of the disease shifted as the severity of the illness failed to live up to its worst-case projections. The research shows that the coverage significantly privileged the claims of public health officials, provided very little space for dissenting viewpoints and perspectives, and emphasized themes of risk, uncertainty, moral duty and responsibility.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• McBride, Heather

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2014 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, research, scholarship, and teaching. Theses may only be shared by linking to Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be used without proper attribution to the author. No part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2014-10268

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/32314