Merging content analysis and the policy sciences: A system to discern policy-specific trends from news media reports

Abstract

In this article we set out to bridge a surprising methodological gap between two time-honored research traditions – news media content analysis and the policy sciences analytic framework. Lasswell, a recognized pioneer of both the method and the framework, discussed the mutual benefits of each decades ago. But few researchers, if any, have formally linked the two. To that end, in this article we (1) make the case for using news media content analysis to inform research studies using the policy sciences analytic framework; (2) introduce an original content analysis categorical system for that purpose; (3) demonstrate that system with a study of 90 national news articles about the stratospheric ozone hole; and (4) compare our system to others used to examine news content. We report that our system, used by human coders, is well geared to describing and mapping trends in the social process surrounding the development of the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty during the intelligence gathering and promotion phases encompassed by our data sample. We argue that other content analysis systems fall short – in structure and purpose – of meeting the promise ours holds to the policy scientist. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006News media, Montreal Protocol, Policy sciences, Content analysis, Environmental policy, Ozone hole,

Conduit or contributor? The role of media in policy change theory

“…By developing a codebook (see Appendix A) and carefully reading each article, the data produced are much more rich and nuanced than a simple word count produced with content analysis software. We agree with Howland et al (2006) who argue elegantly in praise of their human coders. ''Coding can be time consuming, but what our method lacks in efficiency, it makes up in thoroughness and transparency'' (p. 229).…”

“…Keywords Media Á Policy change Á Narrative policy analysis Á Content analysis Á Greater Yellowstone Á Advocacy coalition Á New West-Old West While there is growing attention in the policy sciences literature centering on the media (Howland et al 2006;Terkildsen et al 1998), policy scholars have not adequately differentiated the role of the media in the policy change process. Some theorize that the media is a conduit for policy actors, whereby media accounts transmit multiple policy preferences in the coverage of policy debates (e.g., Baumgartner and Jones 1993;Iyengar 1997).…”

Evolution of newspaper coverage of water issues in Australia during 1843–2011

“…Manual coding content analysis was chosen to observe the change of published information about water management issues over time as we believe that important elements of arguments are often implied rather than explicit in statements, and human coders are more alert to those latent content beneath the manifest content (Lombard et al 2002;Howland et al 2006). This approach enables data patterns to be determined from unstructured information, and it provides a powerful tool for tracking changes in media coverage (Higuchi 2004;Kirilenko et al 2012).…”

“…News media signals the importance of an issue by increasing the frequency and detail of coverage and by ensuring the issue receives a prominent position (Roznowski 2003). It both influences and indicates public opinion on certain issues by reflecting and deliberately framing the stakeholders (people and organizations with a stake in the policy), the situations (the situations in which the stakeholders interact) and the perspectives (the various viewpoints of these stakeholders) (Howland et al 2006). In doing so, the media can influence the perception, attitude, and behavior of the wider public (Bonfadelli 2010).…”

Deadly divide: Malawi’s policy debate on HIV/AIDS and condoms

“…In seeking to understand policymaking dynamics relating to condoms in the Malawi National Assembly, this study largely follows the Content Analysis Categorical System developed by Howland et al (2006). Lasswell's (1971) work emphasized the links between policy sciences and content analysis.…”