Challenging the Journalistic Ideal of Objectivity in Reporting Vaccination
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/imjm.v21i4.2012Keywords:
Framing, Newspapers, Anti-vaccination, health-communication, vaccinationAbstract
INTRODUCTION: The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps, among others demonstrate the anti-vaccine movement's growing popularity and efficacy in spreading its views. To overcome the vaccine fallacies that are now prevalent, effective news media coverage on vaccination that emphasises the urgency and necessity of vaccination to the public is required. To determine whether such emphasis is made in the mainstream media, this study analysed vaccine coverage in two English newspapers in Malaysia, The Star and the New Straits Times (NST). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Framing analysis was performed on a total of 308 vaccine-related news items gathered over 14 months, from January 2019 to March 2020. RESULTS: Both publications used almost similar patterns in reporting vaccine-related issues. They relied heavily on official or government institutions as sources of information with high emphasis given on creating awareness and providing information about vaccines. In broad, vaccination is primarily covered as news to be reported, rather than a problem to be highlighted and further explored in-depth. CONCLUSION: Considering contemporary health realities, newspapers must play a persuasive and consistent role in publicising the necessity of immunisation.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
All material submitted for publication is assumed to be submitted exclusively to the IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia (IMJM) unless the contrary is stated. Manuscript decisions are based on a double-blinded peer review process. The Editor retains the right to determine the style and if necessary, edit and shorten any material accepted for publication.
IMJM retain copyright to all the articles published in the journal. All final ‘proof’ submissions must be accompanied by a completed Copyright Assignment Form, duly signed by all authors. The author(s) or copyright owner(s) irrevocably grant(s) to any third party, in advance and in perpetuity, the right to use, reproduce or disseminate the research article in its entirety or in part, in any format or medium, provided that no substantive errors are introduced in the process, proper attribution of authorship and correct citation details are given, and that the bibliographic details are not changed. If the article is reproduced or disseminated in part, this must be clearly and unequivocally indicated.