1. Print News Media Coverage of Sex Trafficking and Prostitution in Minnesota, 1995-2014
Dr. Lauren Martin
University of Minnesota
The Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC)
October 24, 2016

2. Goals of this research Understand print media coverage
See if there are any changes in coverage over time
Contribute to the larger project: “Mapping the Demand for Sex with Trafficked Individuals in Minnesota.”
Media coverage has a symbiotic relationship with public opinion. It both reflects and shapes how people think about issues and experiences. It is NOT the same as public opinion.

3. “Mapping the Demand”: Overview
Who are sex buyers? How do they enter the market? What are the statewide market pattern?
Data Collected:
158 people interviewed across Minnesota
ALL prostitution and sex trafficking cases in MNCIS
Print News Media Content Analysis
Analysis of online sex market

4. Methods: Print Media Review
The team identified all print news articles pertaining to sex trafficking and also prostitution from
The sample = 1,565 articles
We read, coded and analyzed a random sample of approximately 20% of all the articles in each year, which was 265 articles.

5. Search Terms used: “sex trafficking” & “prostitution”
Two dominant conceptual frameworks for commercial sex in Minnesota during the time period
Lots of advocates worked to re-frame the issue
How are the two frameworks represented in print media coverage?

6. Sample of Print Media Coverage (MN): Terms “Prostitution” and “Sex Trafficking” Combined

7. Sample of Print Media Coverage (MN): Terms “Prostitution” and “Sex Trafficking” Separated

8. Conclusions
Dramatic increase in coverage starting in 2007 and accelerating in 2013
Increasing use of the term “sex trafficking” in print media coverage
The narrative framework associated with the term “sex trafficking” is different from “prostitution”
More discussion of the “issue” itself vs. coverage of arrests
Portrayal women and children involved in commercial sex as victims in need of social services rather than as criminals.

9. What is Next? More analysis and exploration of media coverage:
Deeper dive into this content
We also analyzed print news media coverage of sex buyers
“Mapping the Demand for Sex with Trafficked Individuals in Minnesota” out in early 2017!

10. The Team!
Lauren Martin (PhD), Principal Investigator. Harshada Karnik, Corelle Nakamura, Cheyenne Syvertson, Christina Melander, and Zoe Wisnoski. Special thanks to Dr. Annie Hill (PhD), U of M, Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. Funding for “Mapping the Demand” provided by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota.

11. For more information . . .
Short report on Print Media Coverage: well-being-initiative-0 Contact: Lauren Martin, Director of Research, University of Minnesota, UROC