Covering an Epidemic: The Ebola Virus and AIDS in the News
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
This paper aims to investigate media coverage of disease outbreaks and epidemics by focusing on the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the AIDS epidemic as specific examples. Using news articles and scientific reports, this paper investigates the biology and history of both diseases to provide context and analyze how news coverage changes. A study of articles published by news organizations such as The New York Times, The Economist, TIME, Associated Press, and The Los Angeles Times reveals that media coverage of disease outbreaks and epidemics follows three different "waves": early scientific reporting, analysis of the political and social ramifications of an outbreak, and finally in-depth and investigative reporting of an epidemic.Type
textElectronic Thesis
Degree Name
B.A.Degree Level
bachelorsDegree Program
Honors CollegeJournalism