ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ways in which newspapers in each country have framed the issue of sex trafficking. This chapter examines the rise of sex trafficking news coverage over the last 15 years. Specifically, it uses framing theory to discuss the article type, terminology used to describe trafficked persons and traffickers, the way(s) that articles portray who gets trafficked (age, gender and social status of trafficked persons), what issues are identified as connected to trafficking (such as international aspects of trafficking or linkages to prominent societal beliefs such as politics, the monarchy and Buddhism). The sources are cited and explain what voices are playing a role in shaping the trafficking conversation and lastly, and whether solutions are discussed to lessen the prevalence of trafficking. The chapter consists of a quantitative content analysis of news coverage of sex trafficking in five English-language newspapers in Thailand and five in the US from September 1999-September 2014.
