A thematic exploration of three countries’ government communication during the COVID-19 crisis and corresponding media coverage

ABSTRACT This study adds to the current literature on crisis communication by exploring differences in COVID-19 governmental crisis communication and variances in the media coverage of that communication through thematic quantitative content analysis across three countries: New Zealand, The United States and The United Kingdom. Specifically, this research seeks to find the extent to which media ideology plays a role in reporting health crises. Results demonstrated that universally, press conferences were based on scientific advice and relied upon symbols that contributed to the clarity of health communication about COVID-19. Conversely, media coverage stressed economic challenges overall, but conservative newspapers focused more on health and the economy, whereas liberal newspapers leaned more towards politics. These findings demonstrate that even in major health crises, the ideologies of newspapers can play an important role in the framing of information.