A study of media coverage of the 2016 Zika virus outbreak found that while stories focused more heavily on certain risk aspects than others, it was the volume of Zika news coverage that increased public familiarity.
Research Findings
National Academies Report on GMOs Influences Tone of Public Debate
Public sentiment on GMOs shifted following the release of a consensus report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a study finds.
Civics Knowledge Predicts Willingness to Protect Supreme Court
The annual Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey found that Americans are familiar with constitutional provisions involving impeachment and pardons, issues that are in the news. But they know less about fundamentals like the three branches of government.
Most Teens Avoid Rash, Impulsive Behavior, Study Finds
Only a subset of teens who engage in excessive levels of impulsive behavior, such as acting without thinking, later struggle with addictions or other problem behaviors, a study has found.
Science Media Monitor Aims to Improve Public Understanding of Science
APPC has launched the Annenberg Science Media Monitor to analyze the content of news reporting on science. The first report focuses on coverage of scientific discovery.
Alarm and Response for Emerging Health Threats: Social Media, News and Zika
Social and news media have different associations with risk perceptions and preventive behavior in an emerging health threat such as Zika, according to new research.
Pro-Tobacco Videos on YouTube Sway Young Adults on E-Cigarettes and Hookahs
Misleading user-generated YouTube videos that promote e-cigarettes and hookahs can make young adults feel more positively about these products, according to new research by the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Floridians Took Zika Virus More Seriously Than Rest of U.S., But Most Did Nothing
Threatened by the mosquito-borne Zika virus in 2016, Florida residents were much more likely than non-Floridians to report taking protective measures. Even so, fewer than half of Floridians said they actually did so.
Parents Say Gun Violence in PG-13 Movies Appropriate for Teens 15 and Up
Parents are more willing to let their children see intense gun violence in PG-13 movies when the violence appears “justified,” used to defend a loved one or for self-protection, than when it has no socially redeeming purpose, a new study finds.
False Beliefs About MMR Vaccine Found to Influence Acceptance of Zika Vaccine
People’s willingness to use a Zika vaccine when it’s available will be influenced by how they weigh the risks associated with the disease and the vaccine, but also by their misconceptions about other vaccines, a new study has found.