Opponents of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law received more media publicity than those who support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.
The study analyzed rhetoric from June 2009 through March 2010, finding opponents' terms about PPACA almost twice as visible as supporters' terms. Study authors searched databases of more than 60 news outlets across six media sectors to identify how each side's message was communicated. Here are some of the top terms from each side, along with the number of times they were mentioned in the media.
Opponents
More government involvement — 8,837
More taxes with healthcare reform — 6,720
Rationing healthcare — 2,624
Supporters
More competition — 6,662
Insuring pre-existing conditions — 3,662
Greedy insurance industry — 559
"Even after the President regained the initiative in early 2010 and helped steer the bill toward eventual passage, it was the opponents' rhetoric that was more prevalent in the coverage," the study found.
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The study analyzed rhetoric from June 2009 through March 2010, finding opponents' terms about PPACA almost twice as visible as supporters' terms. Study authors searched databases of more than 60 news outlets across six media sectors to identify how each side's message was communicated. Here are some of the top terms from each side, along with the number of times they were mentioned in the media.
Opponents
More government involvement — 8,837
More taxes with healthcare reform — 6,720
Rationing healthcare — 2,624
Supporters
More competition — 6,662
Insuring pre-existing conditions — 3,662
Greedy insurance industry — 559
"Even after the President regained the initiative in early 2010 and helped steer the bill toward eventual passage, it was the opponents' rhetoric that was more prevalent in the coverage," the study found.
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