Relative risk in the news media: a quantification of misrepresentation.
OBJECTIVE
This study quantifies the representativeness with which the print news media depict mortality.


METHODS
The proportion of mortality-related copy in samples of national print media was compared with the proportion of actual deaths attributable to the leading causes of US mortality over a 1-year period.


RESULTS
For every tested cause of death, a significant disproportion was found between amount of text devoted to the cause and the actual number of attributable deaths. Underrepresented causes included tobacco use (23% of expected copy) and heart disease (33%); overrepresented causes included illicit use of drugs (1740%), motor vehicles (1280%), and toxic agents (1070%).


CONCLUSIONS
The news media significantly misrepresent the prevalence of leading causes of death and their risk factors. This misrepresentation may contribute to the public's distorted perceptions of health threats.
Frost
K
K
Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30303-3219, USA.
Frank
E
E
Maibach
E
E
D002423:Cause of Death; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors