An Analysis of Hospital-Related Articles in Daily Newspapers

일간신문의 병원과 관련된 기사 분석

Hospitals under competitive environment are getting more interested in PR(public relations) as a means of marketing. A typical form of public relations for the hospital is publicity, and its principal instrument is the press release that provides the mass media with the raw material and background for a news story. The purpose of this paper is to examine and analyze the public relations articles associated with hospitals in the section of health care in major daily newspapers. Three major daily newspapers, Chosun, Joongang and Hankyoreh have been analyzed for a year from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1998. All articles in the health care section are classified by content, size, press comments, and style. This study has found some perverse aspects of the public relations such as the preponderance of health articles on tertiary medical institutions, inappropriate publicity focused on certain medical treatments, doctors, and hospitals, and the positive press comments on the hospitals that are affiliated with the same corporate group as the newspaper.