The Image of Healthcare and Healthcare Professionals in the Russian Television Media Agenda in 2019–2021

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the image of healthcare and health professionals in the Russian television media agenda before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the frequency and content of health-related news reports on federal and regional evening newscasts for 2019–2021 (by the example of two news programs—Vremya, Channel One, and Vesti. Don, channel Russia-1). Content analysis of news reports was conducted by the Southern Federal University research team (Rostov-on-Don, Russia) in the course of the RFBR-supported research project on social well-being of the medical community in a complex epidemiological situation. Altogether, we have analyzed 1096 evening Vremya newscasts and 784 Vesti. Don newscasts. The sample set included 244 Vremya news items (about 19% of the total number), and 152 Vesti. Don news items (about 17%, respectively). The sampling was random mechanical (with a certain preset interval). The coded categories and units of analysis were registered as cards, one card per each news item. As the categories for analysis, we have selected topic, genre, nature, locality, length, central figure in a news piece, and presence of a challenge or a problem situation. Unit of count—news piece. On both federal and regional television in general, there was a significant increase in the number of news stories on healthcare from 2019 to 2021. In 2020 and 2021, the thematic angle has changed radically towards the news on the pandemic of a 2019 coronavirus disease and vaccination against it. It should be noted that the main heroes of health-related news reports were and still are neither doctors, nor patients, but representatives of the authorities and Rospotrebnadzor; the share of reports about ordinary doctors was decreasing; with the launch of COVID-19 vaccination, the number of news items featuring mid-level health professionals went up; on the other hand, as COVID-19 was spreading, scientists and inventors appeared in health-related news less frequently, especially in regional news; the pandemic has significantly shifted the focus from child patients to adults, and especially to the elderly.