Explanation of Risk and Uncertainty in News Coverage of an Anthrax Attack

DOI

10.2991/jracr.2012.2.2.1How to use a DOI?

Keywords

news media, framing, bioterrorism, risk communication, uncertainty, journalism

Abstract

A content analysis of U.S. news coverage of the 2001 anthrax attacks examined explanations of risk and uncertainty. The sample consisted of 833 stories drawn from 272 newspapers, Associated Press, National Public Radio, and four television networks (CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC). Dominant uncertainty factors included outrage rhetoric, speculation, attribution of unnamed sources, and coverage of confusing incidents. Overall coverage also promoted comparability, through definitions and explanations about risks and transmission vectors. Risk comparisons, specific advice, and process explanations were sparse.

Copyright

© 2017, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Kristen Alley Swain
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/08/01
TI  - Explanation of Risk and Uncertainty in News Coverage of an Anthrax Attack
JO  - Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response
SP  - 81
EP  - 95
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
SN  - 2210-8505
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/jracr.2012.2.2.1
DO  - 10.2991/jracr.2012.2.2.1
ID  - Swain2012
ER  -