This section of the book (click on each + sign below) presents a summary of key findings from the student’s work along with general implications for those interested in addressing these societal challenges.

Following this overview, readers can continue to the three chapters (accessible at the end of each section or via the drop-down arrow beside “contents”) which provide a detailed look at each study in the student’s own words.

Homlessness

A total of 7 student research teams looked at homlessness in the media. Four of the resulting research studies took a broad approach to understanding how homelessness is covered in the media. Pahwa, Singh, & Patel (2024) focused on 15 newspaper articles from 1999-2023 in the US and Canada. They noted that articles tended to focus on historically typical causes and lacked discussion on emerging causes or new contributing problems. Additionally, there was minimal mention of the complex web of causes that might lead to an individual or family finding themselves without a home. Moffatt, Grisafi, & Al-Askar (2024) analyzed 45 newspaper articles from Vancouver, Toronto, and Hamilton between 2019 to 2022. They found that housing and government were the most prevalent topics covered in the articles. The study also examined cause framing, with socialization factors being the most prevalent, followed by physical and psychological factors. The study identified hope and responsibility as prevalent themes in the articles, with variations across the newspapers analyzed. Elnimah, Mba, & Patel (2024) analyzed the representation of homelessness in six major local newspapers across Canada. Their study brought somewhat positive news. They found that systemic failure (as opposed to individual failure) was frequently cited in articles from cities with high homelessness rates, indicating a broad acknowledgment of structural issues. Personal responsibility received less emphasis in both high and low-rate cities, which was a promising finding. The study also highlighted a focus on long-term solutions in most articles, with a significant percentage proposing both short and long-term solutions. Martins and Sarasiya’s (2024) study analyzed mental health-related articles from seven major Canadian newspapers spanning 2018 to 2023. They focused on how these newspapers portrayed mental health within minority communities, assessing tone and framing. Anxiety was a prevalent theme, appearing in 50% of the articles, followed by depression at 35%. Relatively positive news was also identified here. Only 14% of the articles had a negative tone, with the majority being positive and constructive. Furthermore, 85% advocated for change, emphasizing the need to address mental health in minority populations.

The remaining research focused on Niagara. Clemence, Pozzobon, & Tilk (2024) analyzed 18 articles from The Niagara Falls Review, comparing those published in January 2023 to those from December 2023. The keywords “homeless” and “shelter” appeared in 14 articles in December compared to 4 in January pointing out how seasonality can impact how people are led to think about social issues via the media. Cashin, Von Gemmingen, Ochani, & Green (2024) focused on the representation of homelessness in news photos attached to articles. They found that most photos did not depict homeless individuals and speculated whether this might lead to their social invisibility. The study also noted a lack of representation for homeless support programs and related issues such as homelessness and food insecurity, addiction, and mental health in photos. Finally, Bilal, Continelli, Syed, & Tran (2024) examined article headlines and cover photos from Niagara-regional news outlets to understand how local news media portrays homelessness. Their work also found promising developments in that over half of the titles had a neutral tone, with a significant percentage being solution-oriented. They did, however, note that there was still a notable number that were negative or neutral and speculated whether the neutral titles might not touch upon emotion enough to raise reader interest.

Implications

• A number of studies showed that progress is being made in how homelessness is being depicted in media. However all of the studies also point to the importance of emphasizing a balanced representation of causes, highlighting solutions, avoiding stigmatizing language or imagery, and promoting community involvement and dialogue within coverage, headlines, and photos.
• The studies also point to the importance of understanding historical causes while also addressing emerging causes and new problems to ensure appropriate and creative comprehensive solutions for today’s picture of homelessness.
• One study makes a compelling case for attention to privacy of those who are unhoused while also providing a more accurate and compassionate visual representation of homeless individuals and support programs in news photos to increase public awareness and support.
• Another study points out that how headlines are framed matter underlining the importance of attention to accuracy and compassion while also touching on emotions and creativity to engage readers.
• All of the research speaks to the need for contemporary, creative, and effective solutions for reducing homelessness and media coverage to inspire action and support for these initiatives.

This summary only touches on some of the findings and implications of the studies on homlessness. To read more about each study click here.

Food insecurity

Interestingly, only one student group in the class decided to focus on the issue of food insecurity. During class discussions it was clear that all students could relate to the rising cost of food and its impact on nutrition and budgeting, however many didn’t fully understand the term “food insecurity.” This disconnect highlights a common challenge in advocacy: using language that resonates with the audience.

Ferrell, Adole, Herbert, & Dryden (2024) Searching for “mother” and “food bank” primarily yielded articles from 2017, mostly written by individuals experiencing the issue for “mother” and external writers for “Food Bank.” Many articles were neutral or positive, but a notable number were negative. Only 40% of images included fresh food, and many articles didn’t explain how people can get involved. Searching for “food insecurity” yielded more recent articles, with 80% having a positive tone and mentioning food banks, and 80% providing ways to get involved, suggesting improvement.

Implications

• The study points to the importance of telling the story of under-represented groups like single mothers.
• Their work also suggests the importance of providing clear information on how people can get involved such as through volunteering or donations.
• Similar to other studies, this work also notes that the photos used matter.
• Difficulties in understanding the words “food insecurity” suggests that it’s crucial to frame the issue in relatable terms to help people see the issue as relevant to their own lives, increasing engagement and potential for action.

This summary only touches on some of the findings and implications of the study on food insecurity. To read more about it click here.

Mental Health

A total of seven student groups included here researched mental health. Three of the research teams focused on Instagram and mental health. Cecchini, Green, & Westbury (2024) analyzed 36 Instagram posts related to eating disorder recovery. They found a strong focus on positive messages, primarily contributed by women, with limited representation of men. They suggest gender disparity in representation may contribute to stigma against men with eating disorders. Cimolai & Paul (2024) analyzed 12 Instagram posts from mental health-related accounts. This research team found that personal accounts emphasized awareness and personal stories, using hashtags more than organizational accounts. Organizations tended to use general terms and provided information on strategies and statistics, with limited focus on men’s mental health. Lawal, Sathienthirakul, & Whitley (2024) studied Instagram’s influence on the “Fear of Missing Out” and mental illness in youth. They found that over 60% of the posts they analyzed exhibited signs of FoMO, suggesting that Instagram cultivates and capitalizes on FoMO among youth.

Two student research groups looked at representations in news articles. Huchard, Liota, & Rivard (2024) compared 48 online news articles from two time periods. They found a significant increase in articles discussing mental health in the later period, with a shift towards a more inclusive and holistic reporting. Harmful subject matter and stigmatizing language also decreased, indicating a positive trend in mental health discourse. Patania & Patel (2024) examined 30 community news articles on mental health from Niagara, and also found that positive portrayals were common, but stigmatization and stereotypes still appeared in some articles. These researchers caution that news media may still be negatively influencing public perceptions of mental health in some cases pointing toward the need to ensure that all community newspapers are equally well informed in how to accurately and compassdionately present homlessness issues. They also found that some local articles did not provide treatment options.

Taking a creative approach one set of researchers looked at television and another analyzed student newspapers. Okoro, Sazin & Patel (2024) examined five TV series for stigma cues related to mental health. They identified stigma cues, particularly in “13 Reasons Why,” highlighting the importance of responsible storytelling in combatting stigma. They use this finding to caution that misrepresentation and reinforcement of stereotypes in media can harm viewers by perpetuating stigma. Patterson, Vasko, & Whidden (2024) analyzed student newspapers’ coverage of student athletes’ mental health. This team found that while mental health was commonly mentioned, coverage of specific mental illnesses like depression and anxiety was more prevalent than others. There was a focus on resilience and hope, but a tendency to attribute mental health challenges to individual factors over social influences, potentially perpetuating stigma. They also found that some newspapers covered this topic more often than others.

Implications

• Many of the studies encouraged the promotion of diverse representation, including men, in messaging. The research studies also pointed toward the importance of positive messaging to combat stigma and promote hope, addressing specific mental health issues, and balancing personal stories with informative content.
• One study suggested using hashtags strategically to reach a wider audience.
• Pointing to the fact that Instagram may trigger FoMO, one study emphasized the need for training and policy to support responsible and mindful social media use.
• The study of community papers highlighted the importance of providing information on treatment options in media articles and that some community newswriters may benefit from training in how to represent social issues fairly, accurately, and compassionately.
• One research study advocated for the need to address the potential harms of misrepresentation, sensationalism, and reinforcement of stereotypes in television shows that target young audiences, to prevent confusion and normalize risky behaviors.
• The findings regarding media coverage of student athletes’ mental health suggested the need for  coverage that includes a wider range of mental health issues and a move away from the tendency to attribute mental health challenges solely to individual factors. They also suggested that there may be a role for those working in mental health support to collaborate with universities to improve media representation and support for student athletes’ mental health.

This summary only touches on some of the findings and implications of the research on mental health. To find out more about each study click here.