What determines international disaster coverage in the US news media?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2019
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.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Journalism
First Page
1593
Last Page
1610
Recommended Citation
Jeong, Y., & Lee, S. (2019). What determines international disaster coverage in the US news media?. Journalism, 20 (12), 1593-1610. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884917737212