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

O’connor, Cliodhna and O’connell, Nicola and Burke, Emma and Nolan, Ann and Dempster, Martin and Graham, Christopher D. and Nicolson, Gail and Barry, Joseph and Scally, Gabriel and Crowley, Philip and Zgaga, Lina and Mather, Luke and Darker, Catherine D. (2021) 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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (18). 9542. ISSN 1661-7827 (https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189542)

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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.

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