The Mediated Amplification of a Crisis: Communicating the A/H1N1 Pandemic in Press Releases and Press Coverage in Europe

Abstract

In the aftermath of the A/H1N1 pandemic, health authorities were criticized for failures in crisis communication efforts, and the media were accused of amplifying the pandemic. Considering these criticisms, A/H1N1 provides a suitable case for examining risk amplification processes that may occur in the transfer of information from press releases to print news media during a health crisis. We integrated the social amplification of risk framework with theories of news decisions (news values, framing) in an attempt to contribute to existing research both theoretically and empirically. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of press releases disseminated by health and governmental authorities, as well as the quality and tabloid press in 10 European countries between March 2009 and March 2011. Altogether 243 press releases, 1,243 quality press articles, and 834 tabloid press articles were coded. Consistent with research on news values and framing the results suggest that quality and tabloid papers alike amplified A/H1N1 risks by emphasizing conflict and damage, presenting information in a more dramatized way, and using risk-amplifying frames to a greater extent and risk-attenuating frames to a lesser extent than press releases. To some extent, the quality and tabloid press differed in how risk information was presented. While tabloid press articles seemed to follow the leading quality press with regards to content and framing of health crisis coverage, they exhibited a stronger emphasis on drama and emotion in the way they presented information.

From SARS to pandemic influenza: the framing of high-risk populations

“…CPIP (PHAC 2015) incorporates a risk communication approach which includes social marketing and social media. The emergence of social media platforms both challenge preparedness and response while representing immediate communication channels for transmission of updates and messages (Rossmann et al 2018). Social media platforms can also amplify risk messages; however, the communication dynamics is multidirectional.…”

„Letztendlich nur für Auflage?“ Corona und die Verantwortung der Medien

“…DRPR 2020; Steinmann 2020). Rossmann et al (2018) dagegen stellten für die H1N1-Pandemie im Rahmen einer Inhaltsanalyse von Pressemitteilungen von Gesundheitsund Regierungsbehörden und der Berichterstattung von Tageszeitungen fest, dass es tendenziell die Medienberichte waren, die im Vergleich zu den Pressemitteilungen Inhalte tendenziell dramatisierten und Risiken überbetonten. in solch krisenhaften Situationen besondere Verantwortung zu.…”

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“…Yet, framing in severe health crises is much more dynamic given the dramatic nature of the events (Lee & Basnyat, 2013). Therefore a subset of research has focused more directly on frames in news coverage of infectious diseases (e.g., Dudo et al, 2007;Luther & Zhou, 2005;Shih, Wijaya, & Brossard, 2008;Tian & Stewart, 2005) and compared these to frames in GOs' press releases (e.g., Lee & Basnyat, 2013;Rossmann, Meyer, & Schulz, 2018). Combined, the predominance of framing theory in studies of news media coverage and effects in the health literature demonstrates the value of this theoretical lens for examining news media coverage during the Ebola crisis.…”

“…As public organizations, they are a key holder of information and have the social function to communicate quickly as an objective and trustworthy source to protect the public (Liu & Horsley, 2007). Press releases serve as a vehicle for health organizations to inform the public through the media (Rossmann et al, 2018). Their communication aims to notify the public about the actions the public should take, for example, to avoid physical harm (Coombs, 2007).…”

“…Yet, research into framing across news media and GOs has been limited, with few exceptions (e.g., Lee & Basnyat, 2013;Rossmann et al, 2018;Vasterman & Ruigrok, 2013). Rossmann et al (2018) found that European news coverage during the H1N1 epidemic more frequently emphasized risks, while press releases by GOs framed the crisis more dominantly in risk-attenuating terms. In contrast, Vasterman and Ruigrok (2013) found that while Dutch news media coverage during the H1N1 crisis frequently featured alarming frames, the coverage was not more alarming than its news sources.…”