This volume places the spotlight on the role different media and communications systems played in informing the public about the pandemic, shaping their views about what was happening and contributing to behavioural compliances with pandemic-related restrictions.
Throughout the pandemic, media coverage has played an important role in drawing attention to specific messages, influencing public risk perceptions and fear responses. Mainstream media and other electronic communication systems such as Facebook and WhatsApp have been pivotal in getting pandemic information out to the public, thereby influencing their beliefs, attitudes and behaviour and engaging them generally in the pandemic as stakeholders. In this timely volume, author Barrie Gunter considers how people reacted to this coverage and its contribution to their understanding of what was going on, including the influence of fake news and misinformation on public beliefs about the pandemic, from anti-lockdown protests to the "anti-vaxx" movement. In addition, looking at how government messaging was not always consistent or clear and how different authorities were found not always to be in harmony or compliance with the messages they put out, Gunter examines the harm done by presenting different publics with ambiguous or conflicting narratives.
Drawing out important communications strategy lessons to be learned for the future, this is essential reading for students and researchers in psychology, public health and medical sciences and for policymakers who assess government strategies, responses and performance.
Author(s): Barrie Gunter
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 222
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Chapter 1: Pandemic, Media and the Public
The Onset of a Global Pandemic
Pandemics and the Media
Importance of the Media during Pandemics
The Negative Potential of Media News
Online Media and the Pandemic
This Book
References
Chapter 2: News Media and Quality of COVID News
Volume of News Coverage
The Emotionality of News
The Information Value of COVID-19 News Coverage
The Politicisation of COVID-19 News
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 3: Online Chatter about COVID-19
Pandemics Drive Internet Search Volumes
Sentiments Expressed
Information Quality
News Frames on Twitter
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 4: Public Confidence in News and Journalism
News Consumption Habits during the Pandemic
Public Satisfaction with News Coverage
Relative Confidence in Media News
Perceived Usefulness of News Sources
Relative Importance of Different Information Sources
Global Importance of Pandemic News
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 5: News Media and Impact on Public Understanding
News Media and Public Understanding
Framing and News Impact
Self-Attributed Public Knowledge of COVID News
News Media Exposure and COVID-19 Knowledge
Importance of Understanding for Cognitive Coping
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 6: The Internet and Public Perceptions of the Pandemic
Attention to Social Networks during the Pandemic
Online Information Dissemination
Online Chatter and COVID Awareness and Attitude
Twitter and Public Attitudes to COVID Interventions
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 7: Misleading Pandemic Information and the Public
Bias in Media Coverage
Conspiracy Theories
Conspiract Theories - Explanations
The Role of Different Media in the Spread of Conspiracies
Fake News, Conspiracy Theories and Public Raction
Social Media Use and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Countering Conspiracies
COVID Conspiracies: Conclusions
References
Chapter 8: Media, Risk Perceptions and Fear
News Framing and Public Risk Perceptions
News Exposure and Emotional Reactions to the Pandemic
Variances in News Storytelling and Public Response
News Coverage and Discrimination
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 9: Media and Behavioural Compliance
Media, Risk Availability and Behavioural Compliance
News Relevance and Public Behaviour
Narrative Frames and Public Behaviour
Key Lessons
References
Chapter 10: Social Media, Behavioural Compliance and Other Outcomes
Social Media Use and Pandemic Behaviour
Compliance: Social Media Use and Self-Isolation Intention
Social Media, Conspiracy Theories and Spin-Off Effects
Conspiracy Theories and Public Compliance with Authorities
Conspiracy Mindsets and Pandemic Response
Social Media Use and Positive Health Impact
Key Lessons
References
Chapter 11: Pandemic, Media and Ageism
Ageism and Health
Media and Ageism
Pandemic, News Media and Ageism
Pandemic, Social Media and Ageism
Lessons Learned
References
Chapter 12: The Pandemic, the Media and Mental Health
Media, COVID-19 and Mental Health
Social Media, COVID-19 and Mental Health
Media, Pandemic and Self-Harm
Media Practices to Counter Adverse Mental Health Effect
Selective Use of Media to Alleviate Mental Health Problems
References
Chapter 13: Importance of the Media during a Pandemic
Media, Government Action and Public Protection
The Public: Better Informed and Better Prepared
News Media, Public Awareness and Behavioural Compliance
The Internet, Public Awareness and Behavioural Compliance
Social Media Behaviour and Public Well-Being
Social Media Use to Reach Specific Communities
Boosting Pandemic Knowledge and Understanding: Role of Different Media
Modelling Health Communications during a Pandemic
Closing Comments
References
Index
