Journal of Human Trafficking
Volume 5, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 43-59

Sex Trafficking as a News Story: Evolving Structure and Reporting Strategies (Article)

Sobel M.* , Friedman B. , Johnston A.
  • a Department of Communication, Regis University, Denver, CO, United States
  • b School of Media & Journalism, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
  • c School of Media & Journalism, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Abstract

This quantitative content analysis uses sex trafficking as a case study to understand how news reporting techniques evolve as a social problem emerges on the public agenda. Results indicate that as news organizations became more experienced in covering trafficking and the public made more aware of trafficking as a social issue, journalists moved from routines that favored official perspectives and frames that concentrated on individuals, to the sociocultural level, in which knowledgeable sources attempted to explain why trafficking occurs, and to an institutional level, in which strategies for intervention were proposed and debated. In this way, the newsworthiness of trafficking is sustained. © 2017, © 2017 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Content analysis sex trafficking quantitative Journalism studies

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85061662901&doi=10.1080%2f23322705.2017.1401426&partnerID=40&md5=8850b131d1f44a44077a9333fe091ee1
DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2017.1401426
ISSN: 23322705
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English