A crisis without a context? The framing of economic inequality through the pandemic

Article

Knowles, S., Strauss, N. and Cinceoglu, V. 2024. A crisis without a context? The framing of economic inequality through the pandemic. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies. 13 (2), pp. 177-197. https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00146_1
TypeArticle
TitleA crisis without a context? The framing of economic inequality through the pandemic
AuthorsKnowles, S., Strauss, N. and Cinceoglu, V.
Abstract

This article analyses how economic inequality was framed by UK news media during the pandemic and, drawing from framing theory, considers the implications of the coverage for news audiences. To do so, it uses a data set of 167 articles from the following UK news publications: The Guardian, The Telegraph, the Financial Times and The Sun. There are differences between the publications in terms of salience, tone and there is a wide range of causes and solutions attributed to inequality with no consensus emerging. The coverage is framed mainly by state sources, and there is very little discussion of the finance sector and corporations as causes and solutions to tackle inequality. There are some positive trends emerging, as sustainable finance, climate change and gender equality are highlighted alongside some alternative solutions, indicating a move away from historical trends in news coverage that demonize poverty and focus simply on the individual.
© 2024 Intellect Ltd

KeywordsUK news media; framing theory; economic news; poverty; wealth; content analysis; public discourse; austerity
Sustainable Development Goals10 Reduced inequalities
5 Gender equality
13 Climate action
Middlesex University ThemeCreativity, Culture & Enterprise
PublisherIntellect
JournalJournal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies
ISSN2001-0818
Electronic2049-9531
Publication dates
PrintJun 2024
Online31 Aug 2024
Publication process dates
Submitted19 Oct 2023
Accepted19 Apr 2024
Deposited13 Nov 2024
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00146_1
Web of Science identifierWOS:001312920500003
LanguageEnglish
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/1q729v

Log in to edit
  • 8
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

No longer a boy's club
Gilger, K. and Knowles, S. 2024. No longer a boy's club. in: Weber, J. and Dunham, R. (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Business Journalism London, UK Taylor & Francis (Routledge). pp. 34-44
Understanding financial institutions – The role of reading economic news in Germany and the UK
Strauß, N., Knowles, S. and Cinceoglu, V. 2023. Understanding financial institutions – The role of reading economic news in Germany and the UK. in: Miciuła, I. (ed.) Financial Literacy in Today's Global Market IntechOpen.
Deconstructing discourse: applying interview research in the economic newsroom
Knowles, S. and Strauss, N. 2023. Deconstructing discourse: applying interview research in the economic newsroom. in: Silke, H., Quinn, F. and Rieder, M. (ed.) How to Read Economic News: A Critical Approach to Economic Journalism London, UK Taylor & Francis (Routledge).
Introduction: the media and inequality
Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2022. Introduction: the media and inequality. in: Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. (ed.) The Media and Inequality London, UK Taylor & Francis (Routledge).
Women, the economy and the news: undeserved and underrepresented?
Knowles, S. 2020. Women, the economy and the news: undeserved and underrepresented? Journalism Studies. 21 (11), pp. 1479-1495. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1762241
The mediation of financial crises: watchdogs, lapdogs or canaries in the coal mine?
Knowles, S. 2020. The mediation of financial crises: watchdogs, lapdogs or canaries in the coal mine? London, New York Peter Lang.
Connecting theory and practice through experiential learning: a co-curricular case study from the ‘Journalism Conversation Series’
Barling, K. and Knowles, S. 2019. Connecting theory and practice through experiential learning: a co-curricular case study from the ‘Journalism Conversation Series’. 5th World Journalism Education Congress. Paris
Financial capability, the financial crisis, and trust in news media
Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2020. Financial capability, the financial crisis, and trust in news media. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies. 9 (1), pp. 61-83. https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00011_1
Financial journalists, the financial crisis and the 'crisis' in journalism
Knowles, S. 2018. Financial journalists, the financial crisis and the 'crisis' in journalism. in: Basu, L., Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. (ed.) The media and austerity: comparative perspectives London Routledge. pp. 183-195
The UK news media and austerity: trends since the global financial crisis
Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2018. The UK news media and austerity: trends since the global financial crisis. in: Basu, L., Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. (ed.) The Media and Austerity: Comparative perspectives London Routledge. pp. 15-29
Introduction: the media as messenger
Basu, L., Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2018. Introduction: the media as messenger. in: Basu, L., Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. (ed.) The Media and Austerity: Comparative perspectives London Routledge. pp. 1-12
The framing of the global financial crisis 2005-2008: a cross-country comparison of the US, UK and Australia
Knowles, S. and Phillips, G. 2013. The framing of the global financial crisis 2005-2008: a cross-country comparison of the US, UK and Australia. Australian Journalism Review. 35 (2), pp. 59-72.
Neo-liberalism, mainstream financial journalism and the concurrent crisis in journalism
Knowles, S. 2016. Neo-liberalism, mainstream financial journalism and the concurrent crisis in journalism. Beyond the Crisis: The Media and Austerity. City University, London, United Kingdom 10 May 2016
Financial capability, the financial crisis, and trust in news media
Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2016. Financial capability, the financial crisis, and trust in news media. The 2016 Conference of the International Association of Media and Communication Research. Leicester, United Kingdom
The UK news media and austerity: trends since the global financial crisis
Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2016. The UK news media and austerity: trends since the global financial crisis. The 2016 Conference of the International Association of Media and Communication Research. Leicester, United Kingdom
The British media and the 'first crisis of globalization'
Schifferes, S. and Knowles, S. 2014. The British media and the 'first crisis of globalization'. in: The Media and Financial Crises: Comparative and Historical Perspectives London Routledge. pp. 42-58
Reporting the global financial crisis: a longitudinal tri-nation study of mainstream financial journalism
Knowles, S., Phillips, G. and Lidberg, J. 2017. Reporting the global financial crisis: a longitudinal tri-nation study of mainstream financial journalism. Journalism Studies. 18 (3), pp. 322-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2015.1058182