“Glorified Minute Takers”: Journalists’ (Mis)handling of Scientific Uncertainty During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kelsey Mesmer,
M. Rosie Jahng,
Jill Wurm
et al.
Abstract:This study examined how journalists handled scientific uncertainty in their reporting of the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed interviews with U.S. journalists who reported on the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic and a content analysis of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine pause as one discrete scientific event during the pandemic. Results showed journalists were largely parroting public health officials instead of engaging in critical reporting, interrogating, and/or explaining the science as… Show more
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