Open AccessAgeism in COVID-Related Newspaper Coverage: The First Month of a Pandemic
Author(s) -
Sarah Jen,
Mijin Jeong,
Hee-Sook Kang,
Michael R. Riquino
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journals of gerontology. series b, psychological sciences and social sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.578
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1758-5368
pISSN - 1079-5014
DOI - 10.1093/geronb/gbab102
Subject(s) - pandemic , blame , narrative , newspaper , dismissal , psychological resilience , covid-19 , population , public health , psychology , gerontology , medicine , political science , sociology , social psychology , disease , media studies , demography , nursing , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
Media sources have consistently described older adults as a medically vulnerable population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, yet a lack of concern over their health and safety has resulted in dismissal and devaluation. This unprecedented situation highlights ongoing societal ageism and its manifestations in public discourse. This analysis asks how national news sources performed explicit and implicit ageism during the first month of the pandemic.