Introduction to the quality of medical journalism and initial assessments of COVID-19 media coverage

Abstract

The media landscape is subject to constant change; innovative media technologies increasingly influence the world we live in. While digital media are increasingly being consumed by all age groups and laypersons frequently obtain information on health and medical topics on the Internet, the question of the quality of (journalistic) content on the Web arises. The roles of journalists are changing and scientists are experiencing new opportunities and challenges in the digital distribution of research results. Which qualitative requirements have to be met by these contents and which potentials and opportunities, but also risks, do online disseminated and received information entail? This article describes the topics of medical and health communication and the processes of journalistic reporting. Subsequently, we discuss the criterion of “evidence,” which is already established in medicine, as a possible approach to the evaluation of health-relevant and medical information. Finally, we discuss the corona pandemic in the context of growing media populism.