SPR30831 WLF SPA WhitePaper v12 - Flipbook - Page 27
The role of the media
Coverage of COVID-19
We commissioned an independent sentiment analysis to ascertain whether the media’s
availability of fact-based, reliable government information had positively influenced the nature of
Australian coverage about COVID-19.
The analysis in Figure 4.0 shows nearly three quarters of all content taking a neutral stance. The
availability of accurate, reliable and neutral information from reliable government sources may be
influencing the style of coverage. Our analysis commissioned from Meltwater shows key words
used in COVID-19 related content are not emotive, and include neutral terms such as ‘covid’,
‘cases, ‘home’, ‘virus’ and, perhaps reflecting the localised nature of coverage, ‘Australia’.
Figure 4.0 Sentiment Analysis
Jan-May 2020
Positive
8%
Negative
19%
Neutral
73%
Source: Meltwater analysis commissioned by Suicide Prevention Australia
The analysis also shows coverage was more extensive in jurisdictions with higher COVID-19
caseloads. As depicted in Figure 5.0, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have seen
greater coverage of the COVID-19 crisis through their media channels. This points to a greater
demand for information about COVID-19 in states where consumers were more likely to be
affected.
Source: Meltwater analysis commissioned by Suicide Prevention Australia
Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic
June 2020
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