How Vietnamese News Media Portray Children with Autism

What is it about?

This study examines how Vietnamese news media portrayed child autism between 2020 and 2024. It analyzes 100 articles from five major news outlets, looking at the stories journalists emphasize, whose voices are included, and whether coverage is positive, negative, or neutral. The findings show that news stories often focus on emotional family experiences and place responsibility for care on parents and caregivers. Autistic people themselves are rarely heard directly. Broader issues such as education access, healthcare inequalities, financial costs, disability rights, and government responsibility receive much less attention.

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Photo by Robo Wunderkind on Unsplash

Photo by Robo Wunderkind on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is timely because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare, education, and support services for autistic children, while public attention to mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions has grown in Vietnam. The study is distinctive because it examines not just what Vietnamese news reports about autism, but also whose perspectives and important issues are missing. By analyzing news frames, sources, and tone together, it shows how autism can become portrayed mainly as a private family challenge rather than a broader issue involving education, healthcare, social inclusion, and public policy. The findings provide practical evidence for journalists and editors seeking more inclusive, scientifically informed, and rights-sensitive autism reporting.