Multiplicity and uncertainty: Media coverage of autism causation

Employing the machine learning method, this study analyzes 6,504 articles from four major newspapers, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and The Guardian, to examine how media cover the topic about causes of autism. A total of 14,305 causal sentences on the topic are extracted from media articles and subjected to analysis of causal entities and descriptions. Results show media have presented multiple factors (e.g. vaccination, genetics, and parenting) pertaining to the causes of autism, as well as multiple symptoms of autism. Most of those causal relationships are presented in a tentative or uncertain manner. The study also reveals significant differences in reportage of autism causation across time and media channels.