Synthesizing the Global English‐Language Abortion Narrative: A Comparative Analysis of Media Discourse*

Abstract

Abortion is one of the most politically divisive topics currently being discussed in the media. No study has yet attempted to make cross‐national comparisons assessing the nuances associated with various views on abortion in the English public press. Using an original hand‐coded sample of over 800 English‐language newspaper articles from 41 countries that mentioned abortion, we examine how country‐level influences and newspaper characteristics shape newspaper portrayals of abortion. Our three‐level hierarchical models find that democracy and the freedom it engenders increase the likelihood that newspapers discuss laws, policies, and government claimsmakers when abortion is mentioned. When abortion is legal, newspapers are less likely to mention social movements and protest activities, possibly because the issue may be more settled. We also provide previously untapped insight into the role that a country's religious culture and level of economic development play. Surprisingly, religion and economics have relatively little influence in shaping abortion discussions.