Abstract
The study examines public views on panic reporting and media framing on the COVID 19 pandemic. Panic is expected during public health risk reporting. Media coverage and the manner of framing of the COVID 19 pandemics earlier created panics and uncertainties among the public. A measuring scale was designed in accordance with the objectives of the study to ascertained respondents views. Through the administration of copies of questionnaire, views of thirty four persons on the subject were ascertained. Results showed that though media framing and coverage of the pandemic news increases public panic, it however reduces the spread of the virus; the public became conscious of the virus. Media framing of the pandemic not only causes fears but also led to panic buying of food items at home. The outbreak of the pandemic exposes government failed health system in Nigeria. The study also showed that the emotional effects as a result of the manner of framing were more harmful than the virus itself. This is because the pandemic news was not carefully managed by the media at the earlier outbreak. Management of news during public health risk or crisis is important for easing panic. It was established that responsible health attitude is most appropriate to ease panics. Keywords: Covid 19; Framing; Media; Pandemic; Panic; Public; Reporting DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/100-02 Publication date: January 31 st 2022
Highlights
There are studies on public health risk to show that the mass media have been used as a way of delivering preventive health messages since they have the potential to influence people’s behaviour (Brinn, Carson, Esterman, Chang, & Smith, 2012)
Other studies have shown that the mass media played a leading role in disseminating health news (McCauley; Blake; Meissner; & Viswanath, 2013) due to the importance of accurate health news reports, and the national need to professionalism in health journalism (Keshvari, Niko; Adibi; & Shahnazi, 2018) whereby affecting the knowledge and health beliefs of the public (McCombs, 2013)
The results showed that panic caused by media reportage on public health risk by media framing were high
Summary
There are studies on public health risk to show that the mass media have been used as a way of delivering preventive health messages since they have the potential to influence people’s behaviour (Brinn, Carson, Esterman, Chang, & Smith, 2012). Other studies have shown that the mass media played a leading role in disseminating health news (McCauley; Blake; Meissner; & Viswanath, 2013) due to the importance of accurate health news reports, and the national need to professionalism in health journalism (Keshvari, Niko; Adibi; & Shahnazi, 2018) whereby affecting the knowledge and health beliefs of the public (McCombs, 2013). Media attention to health news has been increasing in importance during the last few decades, and media reports can play an important role in defining health issues because the mass media have used to inform individuals regarding diseases within a population (Collinson & Heffernan, 2014). In 2019, the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic occurred These various diseases affected millions of people all over the entire world causing deaths
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