The Missing White Woman Syndrome: An Instrumental Case Study of Race, Class, Gender and Framing in the News

This study sought to bring a deeper understanding of how a phenomenon deemed the Missing White Woman Syndrome manifests itself in mainstream news in the coverage of two cases in network television news. The stories of missing women Natalee Holloway and LaToyia Figueroa provided an opportunity for an instrumental case study. This study sought to answer a number of questions about television coverage of Figueroa's and Holloway's cases, including: How did each story become news? Who spoke as on-camera sources in the news stories of the missing women? Was there a dominant format used for these news stories? How long were the news stories? Where were the news stories placed in the news program? What language/terminology was used to describe the victims? How were the victims' disappearances framed in the coverage? How were the victims themselves framed (i.e., represented) in the coverage? This study sought to answer these questions through the analysis of news coverage from the national television network news channels ABC, CBS, NBC and cable's FOX News Channel. The study found although Holloway's disappearance garnered more news coverage overall, FOX provided the most stories for both women while the other networks reported solely on Holloway's disappearance. News coverage of Holloway portrayed her as the innocent victim whereas the minimal news coverage given to Figueroa portrayed her as the culpable victim. Suggestions for future research included analysis and comparison of local news coverage of missing women, as well as analysis and comparison of newspaper coverage of missing women. Further studies could also include continual analysis of Holloway's case but for a longer time frame.