Question: Has partisanship in the media specifically, cable news, made people better off during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Project description: The media has had a significant influence when informing the public about the COVID-19 pandemic. When it comes to connecting historical events with this topic, I would like to possibly see how the media covered the swine flu outbreak back in 2009. I want to research how the increase in partisanship has been like since covering the COVID-19 outbreak because it takes place during an election year. I would also like to learn whether this pandemic has turned the media more divisive and purely agenda-driven by having their viewers seek affirmation instead of information. For example, I want to focus on the media’s coverage before the outbreaks occurred in March, and if they had the same tone throughout the pandemic. Since there has been an increase in partisanship in the media, it will be essential to cover the impact it has had on people’s behaviors during the pandemic. I’m also interested to see how the media’s coverage of COVID-19 will be altered as the election happens in November.
Format: Historical Op-ed
Secondary sources:
- Grieco, Elizabeth. “Americans’ Main Sources for Political News Vary by Party and Age.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, August 18, 2020. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/01/americans-main-sources-for-political-news-vary-by-party-and-age/.
- This article includes how Americans turn to a wide range of media outlets for election and political news, mostly partisan alignment. The data shows in this piece that if you’re conservative, you will seek Fox News for information, and if you’re liberal, you will lean on MSNBC and CNN.
- Media Cloud. “Coverage of COVID-19 and Political Partisanship – Comparing across Nations.” Media Cloud. Media Cloud, April 3, 2020. https://mediacloud.org/news/2020/4/3/coverage-of-covid-19-and-political-partisanship-comparing-across-nations.
- This article does a great job comparing all of the data between different network’s coverage of COVID-19. This data was measured from January to March, showing how the media was analyzing everything before the shutdowns occurred in March. This will give me a better understanding of my research topic because it reveals whether their reporting has been consistent and fair.
Primary sources:
- “Knowledge about Coronavirus Vaccine and Origin Vary by Main Source for Political News.” Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project, March 31, 2020. https://www.journalism.org/2020/04/01/cable-tv-and-covid-19-how-americans-perceive-the-outbreak-and-view-media-coverage-differ-by-main-news-source/pj_2020-04-01_coronavirus-cablte-tv_0-01/.
- This first primary source from Pew Research Center is an infographic that showing how the knowledge about coronavirus vaccine and origin varies by the main source for political news. This survey showed that 78% of MSNBC viewers believed that there would be a vaccine available in a year or more, and 68% of them said the virus came about naturally. In contrast, 51% of Fox News viewers said that a vaccine would be available in a year or more and 37% of them said the virus came about naturally.
- “Americans More Positive than Negative about COVID-19 News Coverage, but There Are Strong Partisan Divides in Whether Media Fulfill Key Roles.” Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project, May 8, 2020. https://www.journalism.org/2020/05/08/americans-views-of-the-news-media-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/pj_2020-05-08_views-of-media-coronavirus_0-01/.
- The second primary source was also from Pew Research Center, and it’s an infographic that shows that Americans are more positive than negative about COVID-19 news coverage. Still, there are substantial partisan divides in whether the media fulfills vital roles. This source goes more in-depth on how the news media’s coverage is accurate, getting information the consumer needs, benefiting the public, and helping the country.
- Zhao, Erfei, Qiao Wu, Eileen M Crimmins, and Jennifer A Ailshire. “Media Trust and Infection Mitigating Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA.” BMJ Global Health. BMJ Specialist Journals, October 1, 2020. https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/10/e003323.
- This third primary source conducts original research on media trust and its influences to cause various behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since intense partisanship can lead to false information, it has affected how people behave during a public health crisis. This source will help construct my argument because the data will show the impact the media has had on its viewers.