Abstract
This study examined the veracity of the common assumption that news coverage of epidemic outbreaks spawns heightened fears and risk perceptions. An online experiment with 1,324 participants investigated the interplay of the form of news coverage (factual/emotion-laden) and key aspects of actual risk
(low/high vulnerability, low/high severity) on audience responses. Participants read one of eight versions of a newspaper article followed by measures on risk perceptions, negative affect, behavioral intentions, and perceived sensationalism. Risk perceptions and fear were primarily driven by objective risk characteristics, whereas emotion-laden news form only increased perceptions of disease severity, not of fear or personal vulnerability.
(low/high vulnerability, low/high severity) on audience responses. Participants read one of eight versions of a newspaper article followed by measures on risk perceptions, negative affect, behavioral intentions, and perceived sensationalism. Risk perceptions and fear were primarily driven by objective risk characteristics, whereas emotion-laden news form only increased perceptions of disease severity, not of fear or personal vulnerability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 74-83 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Health Communication |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 23 Oct 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jan 2019 |
Funding
This study is part of the E-com@eu project. The research leading to these results has received funding from the Commission of the European Communities Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement no. 278763. The study does not necessarily reflect the Commission’s views and in no way anticipates the Commission’s future policy in this area.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Seventh Framework Programme | 278763 |
| Seventh Framework Programme |
Keywords
- health
- epidemic
- communication
- emotion
- sensationalism
- media
VU Research Profile
- Connected World
