Media representations of science and health: the case of coma

Media representation of science and health are a key area of concern for researchers interested in the potential of the media to influence society – whether through helping to shape individual behaviours, public debates or the policy agenda. This chapter uses research on ‘coma’ (and associated conditions such as the vegetative state) as a case study for exploring the range of ways in which media coverage can be analysed. I show how researchers from different backgrounds (e.g. film and cultural studies, sociology of science, and scientific/clinical practice) have approached such research and highlight their different research designs and findings. I conclude by highlighting the need to take such disciplinary divisions into account – both when reviewing research into the media representation of science and health and when developing such research oneself