A novel virus that causes a new disease which spreads globally is a hot story for the world’s media. How deadly is this disease? How does it spread? Can it be treated or prevented with a vaccine? Where did it come from? What are the long-term health implications of having the disease? The same questions posed by health authorities, clinicians and scientists were shared by journalists, who also experienced the same challenges finding answers. When a new disease emerges, no individual or organization has a monopoly on the facts; data are scant and emerging, the science is often conflicting and uncertain, and multiple biases and confounders can obscure the accuracy of critical information. Jason Gale began reporting on Covid on Jan. 3, 2020, making him one of the first Western journalists to appreciate the importance of the emerging disease.
The challenges Gale faced mirror the complexities of communicating uncertainty. Gale’s experience and insights can help inform strategies and approaches which others can use to more helpfully keep the public apprised of the scientific evidence as it unfolds, how to interpret the emerging information, and how to guide individuals toward making the best decisions for themselves, their households and their communities. The media played a key role in informing the public about the risks posed by Covid and how to respond to them. Communicating uncertainty was as difficult for journalists as it was for health authorities, clinicians and researchers. It’s crucial that all involved in risk communication learn from their shared experience to guide more helpful strategies for responding to this and future outbreaks.