Relative risk in the news media

A quantification of misrepresentation

Bibliographic Data

ID11036166
AuthorsKelly Frost (Emory University), Emily Frank (0000-0001-7159-5417), Edward W Maibach (0000-0003-3409-9187), E Maibach
Year1997
Volume87
Issue5
Pages842-845
Publication date1997-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.87.5.842
PMID9184517
OpenAlexW2142660233
LanguageEN
Citations received36
References cited8

OBJECTIVES: This study quantifies the representativeness with which the print news media depict mortality. METHODS: The proportion of mortality-related copy in samples of national print media was compared with the proportion of actual deaths attributable to the leading causes of US mortality over a 1-year period. RESULTS: For every tested cause of death, a significant disproportion was found between amount of text devoted to the cause and the actual number of attributable deaths. Underrepresented causes included tobacco use (23% of expected copy) and heart disease (33%); overrepresented causes included illicit use of drugs (1740%), motor vehicles (1280%), and toxic agents (1070%). CONCLUSIONS: The news media significantly misrepresent the prevalence of leading causes of death and their risk factors. This misrepresentation may contribute to the public's distorted perceptions of health threats

Advertising · Business · Environmental health · Mass media · Misrepresentation · News media · Political science · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Data-Driven Disease Surveillance · Law · Medicine · Risk Perception and Management