Visualising global pandemic: A content analysis of infographics on COVID - 19

Abstract

Visuals and words always create a narrative impact on the minds of the readers. Visual data or infographics enable readers to understand and comprehend complex information effortlessly. In an era of technological development, consumption of information is faster and quicker, and so the storytelling potential of data visualisation narratives is productive. During a global endemic like coronavirus, the mounting fear motivates people to seek accurate and credible information swifter and also change health behaviour accordingly. This paper tries to explore the representation of visualisation of data during the outbreak of global pandemic - COVID-19 for three months - from 1 January to 21 March 2020 in two leading national newspapers - The Hindu and The Times of India. The study identified the percentage of coverage, different levels and types of infographics and message characteristics of infographics. The study found that response and self-efficacy related infographics were primarily less in number compared to severity and vulnerability. Media needs to adorn a robe of 'social responsibility' especially during a global pandemic like coronavirus, which is sweeping across the globe - as visual message tend to have more impact than the text.