title: False Balance in Public Health Reporting? Michele Bachmann, the HPV Vaccine, and "Mental Retardation".
abstract: This content analysis of media coverage of Michele Bachmann's erroneous comments that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation explores the relationship between truth-telling (the presentation of accurate information) and balance (presenting opposing perspectives of an issue equally and legitimately) in public health reporting. Of 200 articles analyzed, about 50% provided correction and about 40% provided a counterpoint. We also found that health reporters tended to engage in truth-telling and balance more than political reporters. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a School of Journalism , University of Missouri.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: b Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information , Nanyang Technological University.
authors.forename: Edson C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Tandoc
authors.affiliation: a School of Journalism , University of Missouri.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinnant
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D058015:Health Communication / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000139:chemically induced*; D020407:Internet; D008402:Mass Media / Q000592:standards*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines