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THE ARCHIVAL ANATOMY OF A DISASTER: MEDIA COVERAGE AND COMMUNITY-WIDE HEALTH EFFECTS OF THE TEXAS A&M BONFIRE TRAGEDY

A community-wide trauma leaves its mark on all aspects of the community. Following the death of 12 Texas A&M students who died as part of an annual bonfire ritual, linguistic analyses of student newspapers and changes in student health center visits were analyzed at both Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin. Newspaper reports in the first days after the accident were rich in emotional content and reflect an increase in both self- and collective focus. The coverage of the disaster decreased sharply in the weeks after the accident, became shorter on average, and grew distanced and intellectualized. Compared to news coverage from the University of Texas, the Texas A&M newspaper evidenced lower levels of negative emotions and death-related themes. Consistent with a social stages of coping model, the linguistic shifts covaried with increased rates of illness. However, within two months of the accident, the health of A&M students increased dramatically compared to levels prior to the accident. Implications for the social stages of coping in newsprint and for the collective health in a unique community are discussed.