What do Americans die from vs. what the news report on
17 hours ago
- #media bias
- #public health
- #news coverage
- Over 80% of people follow the news to stay informed about the world, believing it reflects reality.
- Media coverage significantly misrepresents actual causes of death, focusing on rare, dramatic events like homicides and terrorism rather than common causes like heart disease and cancer.
- Heart disease and cancer account for 56% of deaths but receive only 7% of media coverage, while homicides and terrorism are vastly overrepresented.
- The bias towards dramatic events exists because they generate more engagement, creating a feedback loop where rare events dominate headlines.
- This media bias affects public perception, making people overestimate risks like crime and terrorism while underestimating progress in health outcomes.
- The study highlights the importance of being aware of media selection bias to avoid conflating news coverage with reality.