Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

John's $12 Tonic: Press Coverage Of The Government's Selling Of A Private Health Insurance Rebate, Stacy M. Carter, Simon Chapman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: To document representations of the 1998 introduction of a 30% rebate on private health insurance in the three most-read daily Sydney newspapers. Methods: Thematic frame analysis of 131 newspaper articles. Results: The rebate was opposed through two frames: that it was ineffective and unfair, and that it was politically motivated. Four supportive frames were more complex: the rebate was justified by claims that public health care was collapsing, that responsible citizens should pay for their own health care, and that individuals would benefit financially. There was also a focus on the political battle in the Senate. The newspaper with …