Health News and Responsibility. Lesa Hatley Major

(4) 5.2 2009 5 (2) 6.5 2008 3 (2) 3.9 2007 6 (2) 7.8 2006 3 (3) 3.9 2005 1 1.3 2004 1 1.3 2002 3 (2) 3.9 1999 1 1.3 1998 1 1.3 1997 (1) 1.3 Total 77 (45) 100%

      ←45 | 46→←46 | 47→

      Over 77% of published research on thematic and episodic frames in health news has been conducted in the United States with 60 journal articles. Canada was second with five articles (6.5%) and China was third with three articles (3.9%). (See Table 4.3 complete list). Health topics that received attention in Canada include: health policy, heart disease, cancer, mad cow disease and infertility. Published research conducted in China dealt with SARS, Human Papillomavirus and mental health. Only 5% of the research is conducted by two or more countries with four published articles. China was named in two studies with Ghana and South Africa one each.

Table 4.3: Thematic/episodic framing studies by country of publication. (The number in parentheses indicates how many of the studies operationalized thematic/episodic frames.)

Country	Frequency	Percent
Australia	1	1.3
Canada	5 (3)	6.5
China	3 (2)	3.9
Ireland	1	1.3
Netherlands	(1)	1.3
New Zealand	1	1.3
Romania	(1)	1.3
Singapore	(1)	1.3
South Korea	(1)	1.3
Sweden	(2)	2.6
United States	60 (34)	77.9
Total	77 (45)	100%

      Obesity dominated research investigating thematic and episodic framing in news stories with 15 published articles (19.5%) followed by 12 articles examining health policy (15.6%). Mental health, violence and tobacco follow with five articles a piece (6.5%). (See Table 4.4).

Table 4.4: Thematic and episodic frames: specific health area. (The number in parentheses indicates how many of the studies operationalized thematic/episodic frames.)

Topic	Frequency	Percent
Accidents	(1)	1.3
ADHD	(1)	1.3
Alcohol	3 (1)	3.9
Autism	3 (1)	3.9
Cancer	(2)	2.6
Diabetes	2 (1)	2.6
Ebola	(1)	1.3
Environmental Health	1	1.3
Heart Disease	1 (1)	1.3
Health Policy	12 (9)	15.6
Health Reporting	1	1.3
HIV /AIDS	1	1.3
HPV	(1)	1.3
Infertility	1	1.3
Influenza	(1)	1.3