COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs increased in the early months of the pandemic among heavy users of conservative and social media, APPC research shows.
Research Findings
Vaccine Science and Side Effects: How News Messages Affect Views on Vaccination
News coverage of expert scientific evidence about vaccine safety increases public acceptance of vaccines, but the effect is diminished when that message is juxtaposed with a narrative about real side effects.
TV Gun Violence Rises Over Two Decades, Paralleling U.S. Gun Homicide Trends
TV gun violence in popular prime-time broadcast dramas has increased steadily over almost two decades, paralleling trends in U.S. homicide deaths attributable to firearms, APPC research found.
Concerns Over Infecting Others Matter More for Vaccination in Sparsely Populated Areas
Concerns over infecting others play a greater role in people’s willingness to be vaccinated in sparsely populated areas, according research from APPC and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
In a Holiday Season Unlike Any Other, Avoid Unfounded Claims About Suicide
The holiday season usually has the lowest suicide rates, but news accounts persist in supporting the holiday-suicide myth. While the COVID-19 pandemic has increased risk factors associated with suicide, media should be careful not to make unfounded claims about suicide trends.