ABSTRACT
Researchers from a range of fields, including communication, sociology, psychology, and political science, have adopted the framing construct to study the content of communication messages. Though these researchers vary quite a bit in terms of their theoretical orientations and methodological techniques, framing research has been one of the most fruitful areas of research examining the message content and effects. News coverage of social protest is one content area in which the different approaches to framing can be observed, though it often seems that researchers from different disciplines studying the framing of social protest news coverage are operating in relative isolation. This review of framing and framing effects research in the context of social protest will attempt to find some common ground in this area in order to bridge the theoretical and methodological divides within and across disciplines. In the process, it will provide an integrated framework for understanding and investigating framing in the context of social protest. We will proceed as follows: First, we trace the evolution of our own framing research in a way that reveals some of the conceptual sticking points that led it to being infamously labeled as a “fractured” paradigm. This discussion sets the stage for our subsequent examination of the range of perspectives that have considered news framing and social protest in order to clarify conceptual definitions, theoretical perspectives, and methodological approaches. Then, we discuss ways that future research can embrace a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding news frames and social protest. Finally, we discuss the practical implications of the news frames and social protest, providing insights into how protest groups can benefit from a better understanding of news frames, how journalists can work to provide more effective coverage, and how educators can provide insights into media and social protest for their students.
