General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPaper: Hannity viewers more likely to die from Covid-19 than Tucker Carlson ones
news shows in the United States Hannity and Tucker Carlson Tonight, both on Fox News on
viewers behavior and downstream health outcomes. Carlson warned viewers about the threat posed by
the coronavirus from early February, while Hannity originally dismissed the risks associated with the
virus before gradually adjusting his position starting late February. We first validate these differences in
content with independent coding of show transcripts. In line with the differences in content, we present
novel survey evidence that Hannitys viewers changed behavior in response to the virus later than other
Fox News viewers, while Carlsons viewers changed behavior earlier. We then turn to the effects on the
pandemic itself, examining health outcomes across counties. First, we document that greater viewership
of Hannity relative to Tucker Carlson Tonight is strongly associated with a greater number of COVID-19
cases and deaths in the early stages of the pandemic. The relationship is stable across an expansive set
of robustness tests. To better identify the effect of differential viewership of the two shows, we employ a
novel instrumental variable strategy exploiting variation in when shows are broadcast in relation to local
sunset times. These estimates also show that greater exposure to Hannity relative to Tucker Carlson
Tonight is associated with a greater number of county-level cases and deaths. Furthermore, the results
suggest that in mid-March, after Hannitys shift in tone, the diverging trajectories on COVID-19 cases
begin to revert. We provide additional evidence consistent with misinformation being an important
mechanism driving the effects in the data. While our findings cannot yet speak to long-term effects,
they indicate that provision of misinformation in the early stages of a pandemic can have important
consequences for how a disease ultimately affects the population.
https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_202044.pdf
Link to tweet
"Significant paper on the cost of misinformation. Basically, one standard deviation more viewership of Sean Hannity (denied seriousness of COVID) versus Tucker Carlson (took the pandemic seriously) is associated with in 20% more deaths at the county-level."
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)LAS14
(13,783 posts)... sure this wasn't an Onion piece.
Response to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)
Sherman A1 This message was self-deleted by its author.
mwb970
(11,365 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,280 posts)Making America Great Again ..... when old ideas are new
rustysgurl
(1,040 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,036 posts)NCjack
(10,279 posts)BobsYourUncle
(120 posts)on my way to a PhD in Applied and Mathematical Statistics (1967 +/-). I did some honest work, setting up experiments and collecting and analyzing data, but to save myself a *lot* of time I created some interactions and correlations, threw everything in a bowl, tossed in a little bit of the proper jargon, switched on the Analyzer...
And the Department head was so impressed with the result that he wanted me to publish it.
I fessed up just to keep out of jeopardy of being called out for publishing...
Statistical Word Salad.
Botany
(70,578 posts)n/t
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)"I really don't care. Do U?" If Faux viewers are dumb enough to listen to either one of these clowns, then they are obviously easily impressed. Of course, that goes without saying since they are tRump supporters. Murdoch should be tried for treason.
2naSalit
(86,775 posts)with a rapture gone wrong. Who could have seen that coming?
JT45242
(2,290 posts)This study if verified by outsiders is the grounds for a humongous class action lawsuit starting with Hannity (deep pockets) and ending at Murdoch's (the deepest pockets imaginable).
Since the infomration they spread was known to be false (especially since higher ups in Murdoch's organization were social distancing early), whatever insurane they have for this sort of claim will likely be nullified by a "fraud" or "lack of good faith" clause.
I would love to see both of these dipshits bankrupted.
Of course, beyond the civil wrongful death lawsuits it would be interesting to see if any DA has the guts to go after them for depraved indifference to human life at either Murder 2 or Manslaughter 1. They might get some hard core jury nullifier in a criminal trial, but it would be worth the shot. If for nothing else, the possibility of going after a plea bargain that takes away the broadcast license and bans all executives from fox from ever working in "news or entertainment" again.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)as a subsequent remedial measure, Fox might argue, and inadmissible. Hard to understand firing her and not Dumbo Dobbs etc. I know one is Fox Business but hey what the hell, Sue them all and see what shakes. If they claim they are not news but entertainment shows then they should tell viewers that fact. Interesting legal issues involved which I read Fox will take a hard line and fight each case.
bucolic_frolic
(43,280 posts)Look at Trump
mountain grammy
(26,648 posts)Gothmog
(145,542 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Dammit, I KNOW you guys are as stupid as Hannity's audience! Get with the program here.