This content analysis investigated equity-based arguments featured in news debate over federal school nutrition policy. Analyses of national and local print and broadcast news between September 1, 2014-December 31, 2015 were conducted to examine arguments rooted in appeals about equity and/or disparities. Overall, equity and/or disparities appeals appeared in 24% of television, 14% of national print, and 5% of local print stories. The study reported that the equity argument was missing from debates over policies created to address children’s nutritional inequities.
Equity Arguments in News Reporting on School Nutrition Policy
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