Reporting on Dental Health in Appalachia: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Newsprint Media Among National and Regional Outlets.

This study employs critical discourse analysis to examine newsprint media representations of dental health in Appalachia from 2000 to 2022, focusing on The New York Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and The Herald-Dispatch. Utilizing Teun van Dijk's discursive strategies, the analysis reveals how national and regional outlets perpetuate stereotypes and systemic biases by emphasizing personal responsibility, poverty, and addiction over structural barriers like limited access to dental care. Key themes include drug use, lack of medical care, environmental issues, policy, and a "culture of poverty," with strategies such as hyperbole, humanitarianism, and distancing reinforcing status quo ideologies. The findings highlight the media's role in shaping public perceptions of Appalachian dental health, underscoring the need for more nuanced reporting to address systemic inequities and inform effective public health interventions in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]