Talking about Poverty: News Framing of Who is Responsible for Causing and Fixing the Problem

TLDR

Media attributions of responsibility are largely societal, focusing on the causes and solutions at the social rather than personal level. The study investigates how American news media frame poverty, examining both the portrayal of causes and solutions and the factors influencing selective frame use. The authors analyze frame building by assessing factors that shape the media's selective use of frames. Liberal newspapers referenced social causes and solutions more than conservative papers, while television news was slightly less likely than newspapers to make social‑level attributions.

Abstract

This study explores how the American news media frame the poverty issue, looking at the way the media present its causes and solutions. It also examines the notion of frame building, exploring the factors that may influence the media's selective uses of certain frames. Media attributions of responsibility are largely societal, focusing on the causes and solutions at the social rather than personal level. Liberal newspapers made more references than conservative papers to social causes and solutions. Television news is slightly less likely than newspapers to make social-level attributions.