Child poverty and government policy: the contesting of symbolic power in newspaper constructions of families in need
- 9 July 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology
- Vol. 17 (4) , 296-312
- https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.933
Abstract
News media play a central role in processes of symbolic power through which social issues are defined and solutions legitimized. This paper explores the role of newspaper coverage in the public construction of the New Zealand Government'sWorking for Familiespackage designed to address child poverty. This package was criticized publicly by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) for targeting financial support to working families and neglecting families who derive their income from state benefits. We document the resulting news controversy through analyses of press releases from Government and CPAG, the accounts of journalists and representatives of CPAG, news reports and four focus group discussions with beneficiary parents. We propose that psychologists engage more fully with processes of symbolic power currently shaping public constructions of poverty and policy responses. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords
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