Coronavirus makes media negativity reach 85%

In March 2020, the main theme on the news was the coronavirus epidemic, responsible for maintaining the negative news index of the 2,327 articles broadcast by the four main news programs in Brazil at 78%, with exhaustive reports on the progress of the disease, deaths and health care problems. There was still room for 7% of violent contentes on the news (5 hours and 20 minutes), despite the fact that public safety rates improved with people’s isolation. Together, negative and violent news totaled 85%.

Coronavirus is, without a doubt, a serious health problem. But it is cause for reflection if the brutal load of negative news makes fear go beyond the limits of what is reasonable and, more than inform, it leaves society excessively alarmed.

President Jair Bolsonaro’s disdainful statements regarding the new coronavirus and encouraging the Brazilian population to work under risky conditions caused a great negative repercussion, inside and outside the country.

In addition to his negative statements recorded by the press, Bolsonaro called on supporters to take to the streets on March 15th to protest against the National Congress and the Federal Supreme Court, going against all recommendations given by the World Health Organization (WHO) and even by his own health minister. Bolsonaro also suffered countless criticisms for his continued spread of fake news on the subject and his constant claim that the pandemic was nothing more than a “fantasy”.

To prevent further contamination of the population, governors across the country have implemented social isolation measures for 15 days. The excess of information that, on several occasions, became confusing, caused the population to stock more food, personal hygiene items, hand sanitizer and masks, harming more needy families who did not have enough money to buy them as well.

Several complaints were reported about highly abusive prices on products such as hand sanitizer and masks, and also on counterfeit products in an attempt to profit and take advantage of the panic caused by the COVID-19.

The news also brought 8% of positive content and examples of solidarity, such as people who sought to help groups at risk and those in the street, countries donating medical equipment such as masks and respirators and the incentive to fight fake news about the new Coronavirus .

See the complete tables of our analysis here.

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