Caught in a cycle: Agenda-building practices of journalists and sources in spinal cord injury news media coverage

Abstract

Media coverage of spinal cord injury (SCI) is usually framed as a tragedy or inspiration. This has a negative impact on people with SCI. To understand why these frames persist, this study conducted qualitative interviews with journalists and sources to explore factors that influence media coverage of SCI. Using media agenda-building theory, study findings suggest journalists and sources involved in SCI news media rely on the same traditional news values and routinized newswork practices. Access to people with SCI is valued by journalists, however, facilitated by sources who have their own organizational motives. Some sources opt to bypass mass media altogether. This cycle of media agenda-building practices feeds into engrained traditional news values and potentially prevents progressive stories from being told.