A Content Analysis of the U. S. and Korea Newspaper Coverage on Athletes with Disabilities = A Content Analysis of the U. S. and Korea Newspaper Coverage on Athletes with Disabilities

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study was to examine how athletes with disabilities and disability sport had been described and reported in the newspaper coverage during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. For completion of this purpose, this study examined and analyzed the newspaper texts during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. This study was involved in the 14 days of newspapers from September 3rd to 22nd, 2008, in USA Today from the U. S. and 15 days of newspapers from September 3rd to 22nd, 2008 in Donga Ilbo from South Korea during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Importantly, three days of newspapers before opening and after ending the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games from both newspapers were included. To achieve this research, different research techniques, content analysis and interpretive textual analysis, were used. Content analysis is an effective method that presents the most dominant and salient message from the media because it draws on the meanings of images on minority groups such as, in particular, athletes with disabilities. In addition, interpretive textual analysis is a method that leads to the prominent meanings of the text between media texts and readers or audiences. Consequently, the results showed that: (1) Female athletes have been received less attention in newspaper coverage than male athletes; (2) The coverage of USA Today on athletes with disabilities and disability sport during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games have been marginalized; (3) Female athletes with disabilities have described as passive image in Donga Ilbo, whereas no image in USA Today; and, (4) Lack of newsworthiness on athletes with disabilities in USA Today was found.