Unit 5: Perceptions of science. M2: Explain whether concerns raised about science in the media are justified. Has been marked and meets grading criteria.
Amina Ali
Unit 5: Perceptions of Science
Assignment 2: Science, the media and Public Perceptions
Task 3
M2: Explain whether concerns raised about science in the media are justified
Compare coverage of the MMR across different types of media
Board sheets newspaper coverage of the MMR vaccination scandal
The coverage of the MMR vaccination on
broadsheet newspaper such as The Telegraph was
very extensive as they had many articles on the
topic of the MMR scandal. This one article was
quite short and precise however it was very
biased. The first paragraph says the consultant
disclosed information which suggests the
information presented in the article is supporting
Wakefield’s research. Throughout the article there
are only quotes from Wakefield and quotes or
information for health officials which support the
MMR. Articles similar to this were published
frequently during the MMR scandal, making the
public doubt the safety of the MMR vaccine which
lead to a measles outbreak.
Figure 1
Tabloid newspaper coverage of the MMR vaccination scandal
The daily mail is a tabloid newspaper in the UK
which is second biggest daily newspaper after
The Sun. Their coverage of the MMR scandal
didn’t provide just information for both sides of
the argument. First feature in the which suggest
this is the headline “New MMR link found to
autism, this is the initial statement the public
sees and draw their attention. The first two
paragraphs are short however they inform the
public about the concern's parents are having
which might portray to the reader the same
concern/doubt about the MMR.
There is a short sentence mentioning there is no
proof to the claims, "Although there is no proof
that the measles, mumps and rubella jab has
Figure 2
actually caused their autism or bowel
disease” however this is overlooked because there is no evidence to support this statement
and the public has most likely made up their mind about the situation from the beginning of
the article. The article is dominant with information and quotes supporting the link to bowel
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