U. S audiences' perceptions of Covid-19 and conservative news frames

T. Makana Chock; Se Jung Kim

doi:10.1285/I20356609V13I2P1180

U. S audiences' perceptions of Covid-19 and conservative news frames

T. Makana Chock, Se Jung Kim

S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. conservative news downplayed the threat of the virus. Perceived risks of COVID-19 are an important factor in influencing citizens' willingness to comply with risk preven-tion measures. An online survey (N=269) of U.S. residents was conducted March 30-April 1, 2020. We found that those who used partisan conservative news sources as their primary source of information about the virus were significantly less likely to view it as a threat, compared to those who cited Far Left, Center Left, and Center Right news sources. Polit-ically conservative Far Right news audiences reported significantly lower estimates of their own COVID-19 risk, as well as that of their age group peers, the average person in the U.S., and the average senior citizen in the U.S.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1180-1189
Number of pages	10
Journal	Partecipazione e Conflitto
Volume	13
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1285/I20356609V13I2P1180
State	Published - 2020

Keywords

COVID-19
Conservatism
News framing
Political bias
Risk prevention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sociology and Political Science

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10.1285/I20356609V13I2P1180

Cite this

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abstract = "During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. conservative news downplayed the threat of the virus. Perceived risks of COVID-19 are an important factor in influencing citizens' willingness to comply with risk preven-tion measures. An online survey (N=269) of U.S. residents was conducted March 30-April 1, 2020. We found that those who used partisan conservative news sources as their primary source of information about the virus were significantly less likely to view it as a threat, compared to those who cited Far Left, Center Left, and Center Right news sources. Polit-ically conservative Far Right news audiences reported significantly lower estimates of their own COVID-19 risk, as well as that of their age group peers, the average person in the U.S., and the average senior citizen in the U.S.",

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U. S audiences' perceptions of Covid-19 and conservative news frames

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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