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Articles

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2015): Special Issue on Voice and Representation of Marginal Groups

The Newsworthiness of Mental Illness: An Exploration of Representations of Mental Health and Illness in the UK National Press

Submitted
April 22, 2015
Published
2015-07-07

Abstract

Mental illness has recently made headlines in a variety of high-profile circumstances. Past research indicates a tendency for media representations of mental illness to be sensationalised, inaccurate, and reliant on negative stereotypes. Through a content analysis of news articles from UK national newspapers, this research seeks to confirm or deny the relevance of past findings in contemporary society; more specifically during a period of increased media focus. This study also goes further by examining a less-research area of the debate: the ‘newsworthiness’ of mental illness, through an exploration of recurring news values and media frames. The findings reflect past research and suggest that media representations of mental illness are still flawed, and ultimately that stories related to mental illness receive coverage for the wrong reasons, as ‘newsworthy’ mental illness involves violence, risk, negativity and sensationalism.

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