Negativity in the U.S. Media’s Coverage of the Covid-19 Pandemic

For this final Memo, you will apply material we have learned in this last unit of the course in relation to a compelling study of how U.S. news sources have been covering the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers combine a complex content analysis with analyses of people’s search patterns. To answer the questions below, you will need to read two documents:
#1: This New York Times article (Links to an external site.), which offers a summary of the study’s main conclusion: that U.S. journalists have covered the pandemic much more negatively than journalists in other countries. Please note, their conclusion is not that journalists are making up news or ignoring facts. Rather, the study’s findings reveal the tendency of U.S. journalists to focus their reporting on negative aspects of pandemic developments, even when there is encouraging news (e.g., declines in confirmed new cases). The NYT journalist considers what the consequences of that negative lens may be for Americans as they make decisions about getting vaccinated, reopening schools and businesses, and so forth.
#2: The summary of the study itself (Links to an external site.). Pay close attention to pages 1-7, skim the Results section (beginning on page 7) and then read the Discussion section closely (beginning on page 13). The tables and figures mentioned in the text are located after the references. I am not expecting you to understand the names/details of the analytical techniques, but a close read of the listed pages, combined with what you have learned in the class, will equip you to answer the questions below.
For each answer:
Define any bolded words below in your own words, as part of your answers.
Please do not include direct quotes from the materials; I am interested in YOUR thoughts. Briefly summarize the required readings as needed to make your own arguments.
In the first article, the author talks about the U.S.’s coverage of the pandemic as an “outlier.” What do you think it means for the U.S. to be an “outlier” in this regard? Use what you learned about measures of dispersion in Week 13 to guide your answer.
Identify how the authors have operationally defined either:
“Media negativity” (in the Data Description section), OR
“Reader demand” for negative stories
Does the operational definition of the term you chose have face validity? Explain why or why not in 1-2 sentences. You’ll rely on your notes from Week 8 to answer this question.
On page 7, the authors summarize a key finding: “Average media negativity over time is not correlated with new [COVID-19] case counts.”
What does it mean for two variables to be correlated? You will rely on materials from Week 11 to answer this question.
Explain why average media negativity and new case counts being uncorrelated is an important finding. Provide one clear practical implication of that finding.
Submission Guidelines
Failure to follow these submission guidelines will result in deducted points.
Memos must be at least 300 words and no more than 400 words.
Memos must be uploaded as to Canvas as Word documents (NOT as PDFs or Pages)
You are responsible for ensuring your assignment is successfully uploaded and that you have submitted the correct document. To be fair to all in such a large class, we cannot allow students to correct for either error after the due date and time. The Canvas time stamp determines if you submitted on time.
Grading Guidelines
If your memo thoughtfully and comprehensively answers all parts of the prompt (define the term in your own words, explain both sides of the argument, summarize a position based on that explanation) and meets the word limit (300-400 words), you will receive 15/15.
If you meet the above description, but one of the elements is missing or insubstantial, you will receive 13/15.
If you meet the above description, but two of the elements are missing or insubstantial, you will receive 12/15.
If the memo meets the basic requirements but does not fully address the prompt, you will receive 10/15.
Memos that are not submitted or do not fulfill the prompt will receive failing grades (i.e., the equivalent of a D or F).
https://www(dot)nytimes(dot)com/2021/03/24/world/covid-coverage-by-the-us-national-media-is-an-outlier-a-study-finds.html
https://cpb-us-e1(dot)wpmucdn(dot)com/sites.dartmouth.edu/dist/4/2318/files/2021/03/Why-Is-All-Covid-News-Bad-News-3_22_21.pdf
UPDATE:
articles in links above attached