Domestic violence in Appalachian newspaper coverage: minimizing a problem or mobilizing for a solution?

ABSTRACT

Social and physical isolation, gender roles, cultural values, and poverty associated with the Appalachian region of the United States may shape how domestic violence is identified, discussed and addressed. This analysis identifies framing devices, sourcing, and mobilizing information within domestic violence news coverage across Appalachia, and compares coverage in three “economic status” regions marked by higher rates of poverty and unemployment. Societal and statistical context was rare: only 1 in 10 articles contained thematic framing elements. Police sources—often part of a “just the facts” narrative—were present in 80% of articles, while victim advocates were cited in 8% of coverage. Victims’ own voices were even more obscured, found in less than 2% of articles. Around 10% of news stories contained some type of mobilizing information such as for hotlines or shelter information.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence
• framing
• Appalachia
• newspapers
• journalism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Natalee Seely

Natalee Seely is an assistant professor of journalism at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Her research focuses on representations of gendered violence in the news media and the sociology of journalism. E-mail: [email protected]

Daniel Riffe

Daniel Riffe is the Richard Cole Eminent Professor at the Hussman School of Media and Journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. His research areas include mass communication theory and research methodology and media processes and production. E-mail: driffe.email.unc.edu