title: [The perils of risk communication and the role of the mass media].
abstract: Based on theories and empirical results from communication science, the present paper provides an overview of the role of mass media in risk communication. It is guided by the following questions: How do risk issues find their way into the media and how does the media depict them? How do mass-mediated risk messages affect people's perception of risks, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior? What potential does the media have in disseminating health risk information in campaigns? Hence, the present paper aims to provide a basis for the appropriate use of mass media in health risk communication so as to make use of the potential of mass media without neglecting its limits.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung, Munich Center of Health Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Oettingenstr. 67, 80538, München, Deutschland. rossmann@ifkw.lmu.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossmann
authors.forename: H-B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Brosius
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D038622:Internationality; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011639:Public Opinion; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D035502:Trust; D035501:Uncertainty