Television's Mixed Messages: Choose the Best and Mute the Rest (The Sequel)

Media's framing of autism treatment practices may significantly impact parents' and professionals' choices. This study examined the trends of media's framing of evidence-based practices (EBP) and non-evidence-based practices (NEBP) within television transcripts (n = 203) comparing previously published transcript data from 2000 to 2012 and new data from the subsequent decade (i.e., 2013–2022). Results indicated that EBPs received less overall television coverage than NEBPs. However, applied behavior analysis remained the most mentioned EBP. Although television networks framed NEBPs negatively, these treatment practices also received proportionately more positive statements than EBPs. Based on these results, behavior analysts must continue to disseminate to journalists and to influence media framing of EBPs for autism. If not, these continuing television media framing trends could result in potential harm to autistic individuals.