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Politicization and Polarization in COVID-19 News Coverage
P Sol Hart1, Sedona Chinn2, Stuart Soroka1
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Science Communication
|April 11, 2024
Summary
News coverage of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) in early 2020 was highly politicized and polarized. This media environment may have influenced public attitudes toward the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Media Studies
- Political Science
- Public Health Communication
Background:
- Examined politicization and polarization in U.S. news coverage of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) from March to May 2020.
- Utilized computer-assisted content analysis for newspapers and televised network news.
Discussion:
- Newspaper coverage exhibited high politicization, while network news showed moderate politicization.
- Both media types demonstrated significant polarization in their COVID-19 reporting.
- Analysis revealed politicians were more prominent than scientists in newspaper coverage, with more balanced representation in network news.
Key Insights:
- Early COVID-19 news coverage was characterized by substantial politicization and polarization across major U.S. media outlets.
- Disparities in the portrayal of politicians versus scientists were observed between newspapers and network television.
- The study suggests a link between media coverage characteristics and the polarization of public attitudes.
Outlook:
- Further research could explore the long-term effects of media framing on public health behaviors.
- Investigating cross-platform and international comparisons of COVID-19 news coverage is warranted.
- Understanding media's role in shaping public perception is crucial for effective crisis communication.
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