The image of Covid-19 on the websites of national and international institutions: Analysis of infographics by World Health Organization, Ministry of Health and Medical Education and IRNA news agency

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Social Communication Sciences, Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Allameh Tabataba’i, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Social Communication Sciences, Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Allameh tabataba'I, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jisr.2023.364115.1434

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic precipitated a crisis that required a global management response, which was unattainable otherwise. As a result, correct education and the dissemination of pertinent information to the public were designated as the primary responsibilities of organizations combating the virus. Numerous informational outlets and agencies disseminated a substantial quantity of data in pursuit of this objective. Examining these communications can provide valuable insights into the strategies employed by various organizations in managing the coronavirus and prove beneficial in preparing for future crises. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to evaluate the infographics created by the Iranian Ministry of Health, IRNA, and the World Health Organization (WHO), the primary international organization tasked with coronavirus control.
From March 2020 to the end of March 2022, 560 infographics accessible on the websites of the aforementioned organizations were analyzed quantitatively through content analysis in accordance with two health belief and extended parallel process models.
The findings indicate that the World Health Organization (WHO) employed the persuasive strategy of "self-encouragement" to persuade individuals to adhere to health protocols, relying on arguments and the advantages of the recommendations. However, the Ministry of Health employed the pronoun "we" most frequently as a persuasive strategy; this organization prioritized collectivism and the promotion of patriotism and benevolence among Iranian citizens. IRNA relied primarily on the "observations" method (integrating statistics and diagrams).
Conversely, the WHO placed greater emphasis on the social and psychological aspects of health in comparison to the two internal organizations, with the latter ignoring this crucial subject. 

Keywords

References

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