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. 2021 Jul 9;21(1):1201.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11214-9.

Newspaper coverage of food insecurity in UK, 2016-2019: a multi-method analysis

Amy Yau  1   2 , Hardeep Singh-Lalli  3 , Hannah Forde #  3 , Matthew Keeble #  3 , Martin White  3 , Jean Adams  3
Affiliations

Newspaper coverage of food insecurity in UK, 2016-2019: a multi-method analysis

Amy Yau et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity is a growing concern in the UK. Newspaper coverage can reflect and shape public and political views. We examined how frequently food insecurity was reported on in UK newspapers, how the problem and its drivers were described, and which solutions were proposed.

Methods: Using Factiva, we searched for news articles that were substantively about food insecurity and published in national UK newspapers between 01 January 2016 and 11 June 2019. We examined whether the number of articles differed over the study period, and conducted a thematic analysis to theoretical saturation using a random sample of articles.

Results: Overall, 436 articles met our inclusion criteria and 132 (30%) were analysed thematically. Reporting was more prevalent in the summer, with mentions of 'holiday hunger' among children, and leading up to Christmas, when charity was encouraged. Articles often contained views from advocacy groups and charities, who appeared to play an important role in maintaining news interest in food insecurity. From the thematic analysis, we developed themes related to the problems ('definitions of food insecurity' and 'consequences of food insecurity for individuals'), drivers ('insufficient income as an immediate driver' and 'government versus individual responsibility'), and solutions ('charitable food aid' and 'calls for government action'). The problem of food insecurity was often defined by food bank use or hunger, but other definitions and a range of consequences for individuals were acknowledged. Articles identified government as a driver of food insecurity, especially in relation to the roll-out of Universal Credit. Few articles proposed individual failings as a driver of food insecurity. The reported existing solutions predominantly focused on food banking and redistributing 'food waste'. The public, charities, and individuals experiencing food insecurity were generally portrayed as supportive of government action to tackle food insecurity. However, contention within government regarding the extent of food insecurity, governmental responsibility and potential solutions was reported.

Conclusions: Food insecurity was a topic of significant interest within UK newspapers. Newspapers were used to call for government action and advocate for structural, income-based solutions.

Keywords: Food insecurity; Food poverty; Frequency analysis; Media analysis; Newspaper; Thematic analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

JA and MW report grants from the Medical Research Council, The Health Foundation and National Institute for Health Research during the conduct of the study. MW is a member of the Expert Advisory Group of the Food Foundation, a Community Interest Company in the UK that is leading work on food insecurity, including coordinating an ongoing independent inquiry into childhood food insecurity, led by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty. During the conduct of the study, MW was also a special adviser for the House of Lords Select Committee on Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment. JA and MW make monthly donations to the Trussell Trust, which supports food banks in the UK. HF volunteered with a Trussell Trust foodbank in 2017. HF previously worked for a market research company, which conducts research on behalf of many companies, including those from the food and drink industry. All authors have conducted research on dietary public health, health inequalities and food insecurity. The authors declare no other conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of included articles by month and the stories covered in the 10 months with the highest number of publications
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Conceptual map of the problem, drivers, and solutions of food insecurity as portrayed in UK newspapers, 2016–2019. Solid line = associations described in news articles. Dotted line = interventions that could provide solutions along the chain of events related to food insecurity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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