Media coverage of COVID-19 too political, unscientific

In the media coverage of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, science has been overwhelmed by politics, a recent study in Italy has found.

“Media narratives exclude neither scientific issues nor scientific experts; rather, they configure them as a subsidiary body of knowledge and expertise to be mobilized as an ancillary, impersonal institution useful for legitimizing the expansion of political jurisdiction over the governance of the emergency,” the researchers said.

Using topic modeling analysis, a quantitative analysis of all COVID-19-related articles published by eight major Italian national newspapers was performed. Those that ran between 1 January 2020 and 15 June 2020 were included in the analysis. 

Media coverage of the pandemic spiked in early-to-mid March 2020, coincident with the 2-month nationwide lockdown imposed in Italy to stem the tide of the outbreak. Coverage peaked by early April 2020, declining thereafter until May 2020, when the lockdown was lifted.

News articles about the pandemic showed high scientific salience when the virus was yet to be a threat to Italy, prior to the state of emergency in the country. When local cases exploded, coverage shifted from data and health risks to the potential social and economic impacts of the outbreak.

Thematic analysis also revealed that media articles on the pandemic were predominantly about the political decisions made, while scientific and medical themes were only secondary. In particular, the news cycle was dominated by articles discussing the economic, spatial, and social implications and correlates of the pandemic.

Individual responsibility, too, was an important component of the news, highlighting the potential dangers of social practices and nonadherence to restrictions.

As coverage with a political slant increased over time, articles devoted to scientific research, clinical development, and epidemiological facts about the virus concurrently decreased.