Pandemic: Up to two-thirds of news articles focused on Covid
Almost half of the news articles published in Swiss media during the first 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic focused on the virus. In the first weeks the figure even hit 65% for French-speaking Switzerland.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Italiano
it
Pandemia: Fino a due terzi degli articoli di cronaca si sono concentrati su Covid
Researchers from the universities of Lucerne and Bern examined every article published in newspapers in German- and French-speaking Switzerland between the beginning of 2020 and mid-2021.
In total, there were 1,171,114 articles, according to a statement from the University of Lucerne on Wednesday. Of these, 45.5% discussed at least one aspect of Covid, according to a paper recently publishedExternal link in the International Journal of Public Health.
In the first weeks of the lockdown, the proportion of Covid-related coverage even reached 60% for German-speaking Switzerland and 65% for French-speaking Switzerland. “Media attention to the pandemic evolves largely in parallel to the general epidemiological situation,” explained the study’s first author, Alexander Ort, from the University of Lucerne.
However, this high coverage came with a particular challenge for news media, the authors wrote. “On the one hand, through the constant and expansive dissemination of Covid-related information, news media met their systemic role as agents of mass communication; they satisfied the public’s high need for information and enabled exchange between social systems,” they said.
“On the other hand, this increased coverage had to be counterbalanced with other socially relevant information. Otherwise, non-pandemic-related news is at risk of being pushed aside.”
More
More
Minister accuses Swiss media of Covid scaremongering
This content was published on
Finance Minister Ueli Maurer blamed lopsided coverage of the pandemic for the continuation of Covid-19 restrictions.
The analysis showed that Covid coverage took place in all departments. “Journalists rose to the challenge of dealing with the multi-system character of such a national and global event,” it said.
Another finding was a “robust” match between topics and actors. “Economic experts were consulted for economic topics, epidemiologists for epidemic topics,” Ort explained.
“Unlike previous researchExternal link in the US, there are few empirical grounds for criticism accusing media of providing platforms to the wrong voices,” the study concluded.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Swiss foreign minister backs Berset at Council of Europe
This content was published on
Cassis described Berset as the "ideal candidate" to help the Council realise its aim of ensuring security and peace in Europe.
Gay conversion therapy banned in Swiss canton of Valais
This content was published on
On Thursday, the canton approved a new Health Act which includes a ban on therapies aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity.
This content was published on
Some aspects of pro-Palestine sit-ins have gone too far, but the right to protest and debate must be upheld, the student association has said.
Swiss LGTBIQ helpline: attacks more than doubled in 2023
This content was published on
Three organisations jointly operating a helpline have called for more awareness, action and funding to address discrimination.
This content was published on
Switzerland's economy grew slightly at the start of 2024, with growth in the service sector contrasting with weak growth in industry.
Swiss employment rate rises in first quarter of 2024
This content was published on
The number of women and foreign nationals in employment increased particularly strongly, the Federal Statistical Office said on Thursday.
This content was published on
The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly slowed the learning progress of school children, according to a large-scale international study.
This content was published on
Some Swiss media outlets lost as much as 95% of their advertising revenues during the Covid-19 pandemic and they are not alone.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.