Abstract The coronavirus public health crisis is also a political-communication and health-communication crisis. In this article, the authors describe key communication-related phenomena evidence of concerning effects manifested in United States during initial response to pandemic. outline conditions communication about that contribute deleterious outcomes, including partisan cueing, conflicting science, downplayed threats, emotional arousal, fragmented media, Trump's messaging. suggest...

Objective: To understand the correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in American public and reasons why individuals intend to refuse a vaccine. Rationale: Recent polls suggest that significant share is reluctant receive an impending However, far less known about which Americans are most likely their for reluctance. Understanding these issues critical developing effective health communications improve vaccination end pandemic.Method: We rely on demographically representative survey 5,009...

Despite the rapid growth of online political advertising, vast majority scholarship on advertising relies exclusively evidence from candidates’ television advertisements. The relatively low cost creating and deploying advertisements ability to target more precisely may broaden set candidates who advertise allow craft messages narrow audiences than television. Drawing data newly released Facebook Ad Library API Wesleyan Media Project, we find that a much broader advertises television,...

Record amounts of money went to purchase television advertising during the 2012 election cycle, resulting in unprecedented volumes advertising. This increase was due part ease with which outside groups, such as super PACs, were able raise and spend dollars current, post-Citizens United, regulatory regime. Advertising also extremely negative, especially at presidential level, frequently evoked emotion anger. Yet whether marks high point for spending on – negativity will abate next remain open...

Abstract The 2016 presidential campaign broke the mold when it comes to patterns of political advertising. Using data from Wesleyan Media Project, we show race featured far less advertising than previous cycle, a huge imbalance in number ads across candidates and one candidate who almost ignored discussions policy. This departure past patterns, however, was not replicated at congressional level. We draw some lessons about campaign, suggesting that its seeming lack effectiveness may owe...

Conflicting information surrounding COVID-19 abounds, from disagreement over the effectiveness of face masks in preventing viral transmission to competing claims about promise certain treatments. Despite potential for conflicting produce adverse public health effects, little is known whether U.S. notices this information, and population subgroups are particularly likely do so. To address these questions, we fielded a nationally representative survey adults late April 2020 (N = 1,007)....

Health issues are increasingly becoming politicized, but little is known about how politicization takes shape in the news and its effect on public. We analyze evolution of coverage two health controversies: uproar over 2009 mammography screening guidelines 2006–2007 debate mandating HPV vaccine as a requirement for middle school–aged girls. then examine public response to case, using original data from survey-embedded experiment that was linked with all fifty states. find real-world...

Since 2020, many local, state, and federal governments have passed resolutions or formal statements that officially declared racism as a public health crisis in their communities. These declarations created opportunities to raise awareness about the harmful consequences of provided platform for advocates policymakers propose policies allocate resources address problem. This study contributes our understanding these two ways. First, it examines political sociodemographic factors predict...

Purpose Despite the growing use of social media by politicians, especially during election campaigns, research on integration these into broader campaign communication strategies remains rare. The purpose this paper is to ask what consequences transition may be, specifically considering how Senate candidates’ a popular network, Twitter, related their messaging via broadcast in form advertising, terms content and tone. Design/methodology/approach To address question, unique data set combining...

Vaccination rates for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine fall below targets and only 2 states District of Columbia require middle school-age children. Messages conveyed through news media-to parents, providers, policymakers, general public-may contribute to sluggish vaccination policy action. In this commentary, we review findings from 13 published studies media coverage HPV in United States since FDA licensure 2006. We find important themes coverage: a rising focus on political...

We draw on a comprehensive database of American political advertising and television audience profile data to investigate the ways in which gender influences choices about use voice-overs advertising. Our findings suggest that although men voice vast majority ads, campaigns do strategically choose sex voice-over announcer it systematically varies with candidate characteristics, ad tone, and, lesser extent, issues. Moreover, using survey data, we show choice perceived credibility ad.

Abstract This paper leverages comprehensive data on political advertising television sponsored by candidates, parties and outside groups in the 2024 election. We show, for one, that presidential race between Kamala Harris Donald Trump was extremely close terms of volume advertising. Second, focused their ads bread-and-butter issues like economy taxes, though more abortion women’s rights pivoted a brief period to attacks her prior statements transgender issues. also examine scale scope...

Although U.S. health disparities are well-documented, the very communities that bear brunt of those are, ironically, underrepresented in scientific efforts to understand and address them. In two experiments (total N = 9523), we explored consequences omitting perspectives for COVID-19 pandemic. We found that, by prioritizing White Americans, studies pandemic likely missed important insights. Specifically, purposively sampled four largest racial ethnic groups people color were consistently...

Many U.S. adults hold fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention despite evidence that a large proportion of deaths are preventable. We report findings from two studies assess the plausibility claim local television (TV) news cultivates prevention. Study 1 features content analysis an October 2002 national sample TV and newspaper coverage cancer. 2 describes 2005 Annenberg National Health Communication Survey (ANHCS). Overall, consistent with may promote conclude discussion study...

This article presents findings from two studies that describe news portrayals of cancer causes and prevention in local TV test the effects typical aspects this coverage on cancer-related fatalism overload. Study 1 analyzed content stories focused an October 2002 national sample newspaper (n = 122 television stations; n 60 newspapers). Informed by results analysis, 2 describes a randomized experiment testing volume about 601). indicates as comparatively more certain than newspapers but...

Theories of campaign issue emphasis were developed in a pre-digital era. How well do these theories explain spending the current era, when digital media allow for targeting specific types voters? In this research, we compare how 2016 campaigns, both primary and general election, deployed television advertising with they online advertising. We suggest that, because messages are targeted to viewer profiles much more than messages, ads should be likely discuss highly salient issues valance ads....

State actions requiring adolescent girls to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine created controversy following vaccine's approval in 2006. Some health professionals worried that might dampen public support for those state policies and other school immunizations general. We fielded an experimental Internet survey determine how affects attitudes about vaccines. discovered HPV mandates wanes when is informed are controversial. However, also revealed exposure this policy did not spill...

Public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been polarized since law's passage. Past research suggests these conditions would make any media influence on public limited at best. However, during early phase of implementation, locally broadcast ACA-related messages-in form paid health insurance and political advertisements news stories-abounded as advocates, marketers, politicians sought to shape public's perceptions law. To what extent did message exposure affect ACA first open...

Few studies have examined political content on YouTube, especially in comparison to the traditional television spots. Relying both audience- and platform-based theories, we develop expectations of differences between ads posted online aired television. We use analysis compare televised from 2012 presidential campaign, relying upon data YouTube Wesleyan Media Project. find that negative are more likely be sponsored by groups than candidates YouTube. Online less policy focused. By comparing...