Crisis Frame Dynamics: Frame Diversity in News Media and the Role of Governmental Actors

Abstract

This study aims to understand the dynamic evolvement of frames in news media coverage of the Ebola crisis (2014–2015) and their interplay with narratives put forth in press releases from governmental organizations (GOs). An automated content analysis was applied to U.S. newspapers and GOs’ press releases on the Ebola epidemic. Time series analyses illustrate how the scope of frames in news media becomes narrower (decreased diversity) with the presence of immediate and problem-focused crisis frames and wider (increased diversity) with more progressive frames. Additionally, the results imply that a level of shared interpretation (frame alignment) between media and GOs fosters the openness of news media for a variety of frames, which in turn might lead to a communicative shift that eases the crisis atmosphere.