Framing Depression

Abstract

As the first study of Chinese newspaper coverage of depression over the past twelve years, this paper analyzed how state-controlled Party press and market-oriented City press framed depression and attributed responsibilities at individual and societal levels. The study also explored how cultural and organizational factors influenced frame building. Findings indicate that print news coverage utilized more thematic than episodic framing. However, there was a gradual decrease in thematic and increase in episodic framing over time. Chinese newspapers placed more problem-solving (but not causal) responsibilities on the society. City press was less likely than Party press to make societal-level responsibility attributions.