Schizophrenia in the news

Abstract

This study compared coverage of schizophrenia in online traditional news sites and digital native news sites, or sites lacking a print counterpart. The articles studied were chosen by searching eight sites' online databases using the term “schizophrenia” for articles published between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Researchers coded 558 articles for the presence/absence of stereotypes concerning schizophrenia, the number and type of sources directly quoted, and the valence of source commentary and overall articles. Z-test analyses found that articles from traditional news sites stood greater chance of containing violent or criminal stereotypes about schizophrenia. Articles from traditional news sites stood greater chance of containing an overall negative valence than articles from digital native sites. Digital native sites were more likely to contain articles that were neutral. Articles stood better chance of being positive when they quoted personal sources, which included family, friends, and people with schizophrenia. Stories told from the first-person perspective of an individual with mental illness stood greater likelihood of having positive valence. Finally, personal sources stood greater likelihood of making positive comments about schizophrenia. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries