“Glorified Minute Takers”: Journalists’ (Mis)handling of Scientific Uncertainty During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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 associated with COVID-19. There was a lack of emphasis on uncertainty, indicating the need for a stronger focus on science news within journalism education.

Keywords

pandemic COVID-19 scientific uncertainty science news journalism education

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