Media coverage on electromagnetic fields and health: Content analysis of Dutch newspaper articles and websites
Media coverage on electromagnetic fields and health: Content analysis of Dutch newspaper articles and websites
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DOI：
10.1080/13698575.2012.716820
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发表时间：
2012-01-01
影响因子：
2.1
通讯作者：
Timmermans, Danielle R. M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Claassen, Liesbeth;Smid, Tjabe;Timmermans, Danielle R. M.
媒体对电磁场健康风险的描述可能会使公众担心日常生活中越来越多的电磁场暴露会对健康造成危害。我们分析了荷兰媒体中关于电磁场和健康的信息内容，以确定可能与公众对电磁场的看法有关的方面。对荷兰五家主要报纸（2008年3月至2010年3月）和互联网（2010年4月）的档案进行了系统搜索。内容分析包括确定主要特征和可清楚理解信息的背景或框架。我们确定了155篇报纸文章和23个相关网站。分析表明，媒体内容往往暗示电磁场暴露与健康之间的负面关系，但缺乏有关研究、技术方面、可能的生物机制和监管政策的详细信息。区域媒体主要报道围绕电磁设备放置的冲突。在所有媒体中，关于电磁场和健康的信息大多是从预防和关注的角度出发的。我们的结论是，内容没有反映科学的角度，侧重于电磁场的性质和暴露，潜在的生物机制，证据和健康影响的程度，而是似乎遵循外行的风险角度。我们还讨论了如何提高媒体对电磁场的报道质量。
The way health risks of electromagnetic fields are portrayed in the media may shape public concerns that the growing exposure to electromagnetic fields in daily life constitutes a health hazard. We analysed the content of information on electromagnetic fields and health in Dutch media to identify aspects that might be linked to the public perception of electromagnetic fields. A systematic search was performed on archives of five major Dutch newspapers (from March 2008 to March 2010) and on the internet (in April 2010). Content analyses included the identification of main characteristics and the context or frame in which the information can be clearly understood. We identified 155 newspaper articles and 23 relevant websites. Analyses showed that the media content often suggested a negative relationship between electromagnetic field exposure and health but lacked detailed information about research, technical aspects, possible biological mechanisms and regulation policy. Regional media predominantly featured conflicts around the placing of electromagnetic equipment. Across all media, information on electromagnetic fields and health was mostly framed in terms of precaution and concern. We conclude that the content does not reflect a scientific perspective, focusing on the nature of and exposure to electromagnetic fields, potential biological mechanisms, the evidence and the magnitude of health effects, but rather seems to follow a layman's perspective of risk. We also discuss ways to improve on the quality of media coverage on electromagnetic fields.