“Health messages, while one of the few effective ways to slow the spread of the virus in the absence of vaccines, could fail if the media prioritizes political interests over the health of the population,” said study authors Erfe Zay and Kiao Wu, who studied at the University of Southern California. Both are PhD students at the Leonard Davis School GF Gerontology.
Of the nearly 5,000 adults who took part in the survey online survey every two weeks from March to June, about 29% said they trusted CNN more than Fox; Nearly half (52%) expressed no choice, and one in five (20%) said they trusted Fox more than CNN.
Fox News fans constantly studied more dangerous behaviors – such as going to bars or clubs, attending gatherings of more than 10 people, or visiting other people in their homes – than CNN viewers.
In addition, Fox News enthusiasts than CNN fans in the study consistently took fewer preventive measures – such as wearing masks, hand hygiene, avoiding rest restaurant rent and canceling social plans.
“What we can take away from the study is that there is a relationship between the choice of news (at the beginning of the study) and the frequency of infection-prevention behaviors – a relationship that gets stronger over time,” said Christopher Federico. University of Minnesota Center for the Study the Political Study Political Psychology G, via an email.
“This ‘suggests’ that there is something about the different news sources influencing behavior, but we cannot conclude with certainty from the methodology,” Federico said, adding that he was not involved in the study.
The study’s authors noted that the research was “observable, and as such, could not establish the cause.”
“There’s some evidence from other studies – using better methods – that Fox exposure has a causal effect on certain behaviors (e.g., voting),” he said.
Confidence in the news seems to affect behavior
In a new study, approximately 1,000,000 U.S. Data from the ongoing Advanced National Survey Online survey of adults, The Study of Understanding America, have been analyzed. Every two weeks from March 10 to June 9, participants were asked, among other things, questions about how they protected themselves from Covid-19 over the past seven days.
In the final analysis, 6363. Data from respondents who completed the questionnaire every two weeks without fail have been tracked.
CNN viewers were probably following the protective guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and others, followed by those who had no choice in their media choices.
Viewers who relied on CNN for their news on Covid-19 engaged in an average of 85.8585 preventive behaviors during the study period, while those who relied on Fox News took an average of 41,411 safety precautions.
Older Americans over the age of 65, which means they are in a higher risk group if they contract the virus, but women, of a more educated and non-Hispanic Asian background, are more likely to take protective measures. Learning.
According to the study, people with jobs, but unable to work from home, are less likely to follow preventive behavior.
Overall, Fox viewers engaged in an average of 1.25 risky behaviors during the study period, while CNN viewers participated in 0.94 risky behaviors such as going to other people’s homes and attending large gatherings.
While it may be a small number in itself, adding risky behaviors in the absence of preventive behaviors significantly increases overall risk, the study authors said.
In addition, as risky behavior among Fox News fans increases over time, the study found that the highest levels are seen in late May and June.
Brian Stelter, CNN’s chief media correspondent, said he was making the disclosure.
“This new study suggests that when Fox’s biggest stars listened to public health experts and their educational information resonated in March and April, Fox viewers listened and acted accordingly,” Stelter said.
“When those same stars changed their tone and Fox turned into a ‘more politically charged story in May’, viewers also heard that voice and clear – and eased their safety precautions.”
Flu vs. Covid-19
Early in the epidemic, Fox host Sean Hannity consistently compared the deadly number of Covid-19 with the seasonal flu, and concluded that the novel coronavirus is less deadly than influenza.
“Listen, my telling friends, is it really that bad?” On March 6, Hennity met Fox’s medical contributor, Dr. Asked Mark Siegel.
“This virus should be compared to the flu, because at the worst of times, in the worst case scenario, it could be the flu,” Siegel replied.
“This was shockingly irresponsible material – and Fox officials knew it, because by early March, they were taking precautions that misrepresented Siegel’s justice-flu statement,” Stalter wrote in his new book “The Hawks: Donald Trump, Fox News, ” And a dangerous disorder of truth. “
“The network canceled a major event for hundreds of advertisers, set up a deep cleanup of office fees and began planning to work from home. Yet Fox’s Stars continued to send mixed messages to millions of viewers,” he wrote.
“You’ve mentioned seasonal flu to make sure your viewers get an accurate idea of what happens,” Fawcett told Hannity.
“The mortality rate for seasonal flu is 0.1. The mortality rate for this is about 2, 2.5%. It’s probably lower than that, it’s probably closer to 1. But even if it’s 1 (percent) it’s ten times more deadly than seasonal flu. Is, ”Fawcett said.
Impact of more media sources
Additional research shows the connection between the source and belief formation of only one medium about epidemics.
But while viewers with the same Republican leanings relied on at least other major news providers, only 46% said the U.S. exploded as well as it could.
The survey “showed a clear correlation between views on news diets and epidemics within the GOP,” the authors said.
“Millions of viewers take their cue from Fox. That’s why it was so dangerous when commentators and hosts reiterated the severity of the epidemic and considered it a political torture rather than a medical emergency.”
“Fox’s coverage misrepresented President Trump and millions of others. And this isn’t just a story of the past – it’s happening today.”
USC study authors say it’s time for the media to take responsibility for their behavior.
They added, “Politically driven stories not only lead to biased health messages, but people can actively filter their information in a way that does not match political inclinations.”
“The media should reduce their biased attitude towards health information so that they can reject people’s judgment during a health crisis.”
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