False Balance in Public Health Reporting? Michele Bachmann, the HPV Vaccine, and “Mental Retardation”

Ryan J. Thomas; Edson C. Tandoc; Amanda Hinnant

doi:10.1080/10410236.2015.1110006

False Balance in Public Health Reporting? Michele Bachmann, the HPV Vaccine, and “Mental Retardation”

Ryan J. Thomas^*, Edson C. Tandoc, Amanda Hinnant

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This content analysis of media coverage of Michele Bachmann’s erroneous comments that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation explores the relationship between truth-telling (the presentation of accurate information) and balance (presenting opposing perspectives of an issue equally and legitimately) in public health reporting. Of 200 articles analyzed, about 50% provided correction and about 40% provided a counterpoint. We also found that health reporters tended to engage in truth-telling and balance more than political reporters. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	152-160
Number of pages	9
Journal	Health Communication
Volume	32
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2015.1110006
Publication status	Published - Feb 1 2017
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Taylor & Francis.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Health(social science)
Communication

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/10410236.2015.1110006

Cite this

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abstract = "This content analysis of media coverage of Michele Bachmann{\textquoteright}s erroneous comments that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation explores the relationship between truth-telling (the presentation of accurate information) and balance (presenting opposing perspectives of an issue equally and legitimately) in public health reporting. Of 200 articles analyzed, about 50\% provided correction and about 40\% provided a counterpoint. We also found that health reporters tended to engage in truth-telling and balance more than political reporters. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.",

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False Balance in Public Health Reporting? Michele Bachmann, the HPV Vaccine, and “Mental Retardation”

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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