The Analysis of the Online Newspapers in Health Epidemics: A Comparison Between the Public Sphere of Mexico and Spain

Authors

  • Nahia Idoiaga Mondragón UPV-EHU

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37467/gka-revmedica.v4.855

Keywords:

Social representations, Collective symbolic coping, Online Media Discourse, Swine Flu

Abstract

The 2009 swine flu was a pandemic influenza involving H1N1 virus. This paper studies how the mass media have treated this issue by analyzing the largest circulation newspapers in Mexico and Spain. 167 news of the two newspapers from April 2009 to August 2010 were analyzed. First, a positive correlation between the coverage of the outbreak and influenza-infected people was found. Second, a positive correlation between the coverage of the flu in Spain and the representation of health as a problem for the Spanish was also found. Third, an ALCESTE showed five main classes. Implications for research on social representations and media coverage as well as on strategies resulting from media discourse to cope with threatening health crisis are discussed.

Author Biography

Nahia Idoiaga Mondragón, UPV-EHU

Es licenciada en psicología y doctoranda en psicología social con una beca del Gobierno Vasco. Trabaja en el departamento de Psicología Social y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento de la Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU. Sus trabajos se basan en la influencia de los medios de comunicación en momentos de crisis, especialmente en pandemias y crisis sanitarias.

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Published

2015-03-05

How to Cite

Idoiaga Mondragón, N. (2015). The Analysis of the Online Newspapers in Health Epidemics: A Comparison Between the Public Sphere of Mexico and Spain. MEDICA REVIEW. International Medical Humanities Review / Revista Internacional De Humanidades Médicas, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.37467/gka-revmedica.v4.855

Issue

Section

Research articles