Flu Cases on the Rise

           Perusing the New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Eagle Tribune showed that unusual, out-of-the-ordinary events are newsworthy. For instance, headlines on the front page of the Times announced flu outbreaks, a ferry accident, and coming gun restrictions. These happenings are unexpected or will potentially change how Americans are accustomed to living. Recognizing that the news reports unusual events also illustrates society’s idea of what is normal. I sometimes hear friends and family complain that the news is always negative, but this is actually hopeful. Society doesn’t believe that tragedies, like the New York ferry crash that injured about 60 passengers, are normal. This event shattered our assumption that commuting should be a safe, even boring, routine, and the story was therefore newsworthy. Articles describe uncommon happenings and changes because surprise and newness pique interest.

            Seeing the Times, Globe, and Tribune announce the unusual surge of flu on their January 10th front pages prompted me to investigate each paper’s report on the sickness. While reading and looking at pictures about the flu, I noticed similarities between the papers’ approach to this news. In the Times, the words, “Flu Widespread, Leading A Range Of Winter’s Ills” dominated the top, left-hand corner. Bylines claimed, “Stomach Virus Raging” and “Not Epidemic Yet, but Spreading Across the U.S. and Canada.” The words “widespread, raging, and epidemic” made me feel endangered by the flu and compelled me to read further. The article relied on experts form the C.D.C. and public figures, like Boston’s Mayor Menino, to credibly describe the situation.

The Boston Globe and The Eagle Tribune used a similar strategy as the Times to report on the flu. For instance, all these newspapers used headlines to illustrate the severity of this season’s outbreak and grab the public’s attention. The Globe’s headlines, “City calls flu emergency” and “Will Give Free Vaccinations; Cases Strain Clinics ” stressed that stopping the flu from spreading is urgent. Similarly, the Tribune snagged readers’ attention by stating, “18 Deaths Recorded So Far” on the paper’s front page above its flu article. The Globe and the Tribune followed the Times strategy of using information from health professionals and Mayor Menino as well. Both papers quoted Kevin Cranston, the director of the state Bureau of Infectious Disease, and they quoted Mayor Menino urging people to receive the flu vaccination. The Globe reported that Menino said, “the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to get the flu shot” while the Tribune quoted him saying, “It’s the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family.” These papers recognize the influence that health professionals and political figures have on the public, so their input is newsworthy.

The Eagle Tribune Cover Photo

            Finally, each paper included a picture to help the reader understand how he or she should react to the news. In the Times photo located in the paper’s body, Mayor Menino sits apparently discussing the flu situation. A middle-aged white man stands on the left side of the picture with a worried expression while an older woman standing behind the mayor appears deeply concerned. The man in the painted portrait above Menino rests his hand on his stomach as if suffering from the flu along with the many sick Bostonians. The Times photo mediated the public’s view of the flu breakout by showing that the mayor and other white administrators are concerned but addressing the situation. Surprisingly, the photos in the Globe and Tribune were very similar to each other. Both papers photographed a physician administering a flu vaccine. By showing a child getting vaccinated, the Globe reminded readers that everyone is vulnerable to the flu and encouraged readers to get the shot. If a child can handle the prick, so can an adult. The Tribune’s photo portrayed flu shots differently, but it still urged people to get the shot. The half smiles of the physician and patient show that getting the shot is not an annoying inconvenience. These pictures help readers understand how to react to the contents of the article.

The Boston Globe Cover Photo

            The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Eagle Tribune employed similar strategies to report about the unusual and therefore newsworthy flu outbreak. The newspapers used research from similar credible sources and even printed similar pictures to guide the public’s understanding of the spike in flu cases.