Media Representations of Science during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of News and Social Media on the Island of Ireland

Abstract

COVID-19 is arguably the most critical science communication challenge of a generation, yet comes in the wake of a purported populist turn against scientific expertise in western societies. This study advances understanding of science–society relations during the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing how science was represented in news and social media coverage of COVID-19 on the island of Ireland. Thematic analysis was performed on a dataset comprising 952 news articles and 603 tweets published between 1 January and 31 May 2020. Three themes characterised the range of meanings attached to science: ‘Defining science: Its subjects, practice and process’, ‘Relating to science: Between veneration and suspicion’ and ‘Using science: As solution, policy and rhetoric’. The analysis suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic represented a platform to highlight the value, philosophy, process and day-to-day activity of scientific research. However, the study also identified risks the pandemic might pose to science communication, including feeding public alienation by disparaging lay understandings, reinforcing stereotypical images of scientists, and amplifying the politicisation of scientific statements.

Multiplicity and dynamics of social representations of the COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese social media from 2019 to 2020

“…In contrast, the science of COVID-19 and its related topics ( Caulfield et al, 2021 ; O'Connor et al, 2021 ; Scheufele et al, 2021 ; Schück et al, 2021 ), such as pseudo-science and misinformation or fact-checking and correction were not central to COVID-19 representations. During the analysis period, the topic of science on COVID-19 constituted around 10% of the total data (stage 1: 11.32%, stage 2: 6.34%, stage 3: 6.78%).…”

The invisible frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining sourcing and the underrepresentation of female expertise in pandemic news coverage

“…For example, Kitzinger et al (2008) examined gender representations within science-related news stories published in Britain over a 6-month period and concluded that males were cited at a much higher frequency. This pattern has been observed within Finnish news coverage (Niemi and Pitkänen, 2017), Danish news media (Wien, 2014), Irish news media coverage (O'Connor, 2021), and Spanish news media (González et al, 2017). This lack of female representation can reinforce gendered stereotypes that females cannot be scientific experts (Carli et al, 2016).…”

Globalisasi dan Alienasi: Dampak Media Sosial Terhadap Keterasingan Manusia

“…Hal ini dapat digunakan sebagai sarana untuk menciptakan kepercayaan diri, penguatan diri, dan branding diri. Dalam mengatasi hal negatif pada psikologis penggunanya, media sosial juga berguna untuk menghilangkan keterasingan sosial bagi penggunanya (Charkawi, 2021;Cudo, 2020;O'connor, 2021;Seberger, 2021).…”