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Risk, expert uncertainty, and Australian news media: public and private faces of expert opinion during the 2009 swine flu pandemic

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  • Kate Holland
  • R. Warwick Blood
  • Michelle Imison
  • Simon Chapman
  • Andrea Fogarty

Abstract

During the outbreak of emerging infectious diseases scientists and public health officials play a key role in informing communities about what is happening, why and what they can do about it, and the news media are critical to how expert knowledge is presented to the public. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the media-oriented practices of experts and to gauge their perceptions of risk communication during public health emergencies. This study investigates the experiences of scientists and public health officials who were sources for the Australian news media during the 2009 pH1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. The paper discusses the perception among some participants that their colleagues were 'toeing the party' line as distinct from offering individual 'expert opinion', and identifies the different meanings they associated with responsible expert risk communication. In their encounters with the media some indicated frustration with news media constraints, while others demonstrated an internalization of the kind of skills required to play the 'media game'. The paper discusses the ways in which scientific experts balanced their roles and responsibilities in the context of institutional pressures to be an active media performer. The study affirms the importance of looking beyond media texts and to the activities and perceptions of media sources in order to fully appreciate framing contests, especially when there is a suggestion that dissenting views on disease risk are restricted from entering public debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Kate Holland & R. Warwick Blood & Michelle Imison & Simon Chapman & Andrea Fogarty, 2012. "Risk, expert uncertainty, and Australian news media: public and private faces of expert opinion during the 2009 swine flu pandemic," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(6), pages 657-671, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jriskr:v:15:y:2012:i:6:p:657-671
    DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2011.652651
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stuart Allan & Alison Anderson & Alan Petersen, 2010. "Framing risk: nanotechnologies in the news," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 29-44, January.
    2. Bev J. Holmes & Natalie Henrich & Sara Hancock & Valia Lestou, 2009. "Communicating with the public during health crises: experts' experiences and opinions," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(6), pages 793-807, September.
    3. Vian Bakir, 2010. "Media and risk: old and new research directions," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 5-18, January.
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    RePEc Biblio mentions

    As found on the RePEc Biblio, the curated bibliography for Economics:
    1. > Economics of Welfare > Health Economics > Economics of Pandemics > Preparation > Crisis management

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    Cited by:

    1. Austin Y. Hubner & Shelly R. Hovick, 2020. "Understanding Risk Information Seeking and Processing during an Infectious Disease Outbreak: The Case of Zika Virus," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(6), pages 1212-1225, June.
    2. Davis, Mark & Lyall, Benjamin & Whittaker, Andrea & Lindgren, Mia & Djerf-Pierre, Monika & Flowers, Paul, 2020. "A year in the public life of superbugs: News media on antimicrobial resistance and implications for health communications," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    3. Xin Ming & Menno D. T. De Jong, 2021. "Mental Well-Being of Chinese Immigrants in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey Investigating Personal and Societal Antecedents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Degeling, Chris & Kerridge, Ian, 2013. "Hendra in the news: Public policy meets public morality in times of zoonotic uncertainty," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 156-163.
    5. Marco Benvenuto & Francesco Sambati & Carmine Viola, 2022. "Una survey nazionale per valutare l?efficacia della comunicazione istituzionale nella gestione del Covid-19," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(121), pages 31-56.

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