Be aware of superbugs: Newspaper coverage of NDM-1 in India,UK, and the USA |
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| Authors: | Bijie Bie Lu Tang Debbie M Treise |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Communication Studies, College of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USAbbie@crimson.ua.edu;3. Department of Communication Studies, College of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA;4. Department of Advertising, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA |
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| Abstract: | Marrying the psychometric paradigm with the community structure theory, this paper examines the coverage of a superbug (NDM-1) in newspapers in India, the UK, and the USA. It identifies several community structure characteristics: level of vested economic interest, level of health care available, and size of health care stakeholders as factors influencing how risks of NDM-1 are portrayed in terms of the level of dread, controllability, familiarity, and uncertainty. The finding provides baseline data for the scientific community and public health professionals in creating more effective messages to inform the public about the risks of superbugs. |
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| Keywords: | Superbug psychometric paradigm community structure approach mass media newspapers |
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