A Longitudinal Analysis of Americans’ Media Sources, Risk Perceptions, and Judged Need for Action during the Zika Outbreak

The objective of this study is to better understand the effects of media attention on Americans’ perceptions of risk by analyzing the different media sources and outlets, or “repertoires,” reported as used during the small 2016–2017 Zika outbreak in the U.S. We analyzed survey data from a four-wave longitudinal panel study over nine months–July 19, 2016 through April 24, 2017 (n = 743)–using an online panel of American adults. Media attention related to ratings of personal risk, U.S. risk, and need for action. Personal risk was enhanced more by reported attention to international coverage, reduced by certain reported website attention, but enhanced by reported attention to public health agency websites. U.S. risk was enhanced by reported attention to both domestic and international coverages, reduced by television. Judged need for U.S. action was enhanced more by exposure to domestic coverage, reduced by reported attention to television and local newspapers, but enhanced by reported exposure to BBC and CNN. Our results demonstrate how the use of different media outlets and sources are related to different perceptions of risk and need for action during 2016–2017 Zika outbreak.