The article examines the media discourse of risk and stigma which developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, employing the theoretical frameworks of Mary Douglas and Erving Goffman. Accessing the Factiva database archive, the authors analysed a total of 139 stigma-linked media reports, using the Discourse Network Analyzer (DNA) to identify thematic groups of beliefs and related actors contributing to the risk discourse on the contagion. The results exhibit a clear difference in opinion on various stigma-related beliefs among the individuals diagnosed or assumed susceptible to COVID-19, including the issue of disclosing identities. In India, domestic actors have dominated the media discourse, particularly national government agencies, rather than intergovernmental organisations or foreign governments. The media content analysis in this article shows that new hierarchies have emerged based on confirmed or suspected contact with the disease along with reinforcement of traditional myths and superstitions, leading to discrimination against the quarantined individuals, their families, healthcare staff and socially marginalised communities.

本文考察了针对印度COVID-19大流行而产生的风险和污名化的媒体报道，并运用了Mary Douglas和Erving Goffman的理论框架。通过访问Factiva数据库档案，作者使用话语网络分析器（DNA）分析了总共139个与污名相关的媒体报道，以识别有助于传播传染风险的信念和相关角色的主题组。结果显示，在诊断或假定易感染COVID-19的个体中，关于各种与耻辱有关的信念的观点存在明显差异，包括披露身份的问题。在印度，国内演员主导了媒体报道，尤其是国家政府机构，而不是政府间组织或外国政府。