The Rhetoric of Visual Representations: Visualizing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Polish Media

Glowka, Karolina (2023) The Rhetoric of Visual Representations: Visualizing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Polish Media. In: COVID Communication - Exploring Pandemic Discourse. Springer Nature Switzerland AG. ISBN UNSPECIFIED

WarningThere is a more recent version of this item available.

Documents
The Rhetoric of Visual Representations_KG.docx
Unpublished version of the book section which will not be published as Creative Commons, access will be restricted by the publisher
[img] Microsoft Word
The Rhetoric of Visual Representations_KG.docx
Restricted to Repository staff only

37kB
Item Type:Book Section
Item Status:Live Archive

Abstract

Visual data displays direct our ways of perceiving and understanding represented information. However, little is known about how data visualizations influence perception of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Pandemic literacy enables us to see critically the visual rhetoric of COVID-19 in the public sphere. This chapter examines the role of COVID-19 data visualizations in communicating risk in Poland. Drawing on the notion of framing theory, the essay analyses the rhetorical potential of visual data and the impact of visual information (visinfo) on public reaction to epidemic disease. A visual content analysis was employed to investigate COVID-19 communication and different rhetorical strategies in Polish media coverage of COVID-19. Results show that data visualizations presented information focused on threats and advisable prevention methods that could lead to reactions of fear and uncertainty. Interestingly, no data were found showing an individual’s likelihood of infection. Important theoretical and empirical implications are discussed.

Keywords:visual rhetoric, digital media, information visualization, visinfo, risk communication, perceptions of COVID-19, Covid-19 media coverage
Subjects:P Mass Communications and Documentation > P300 Media studies
Divisions:Lincoln International Business School
ID Code:52730
Deposited On:05 Dec 2022 16:11

Available Versions of this Item

Repository Staff Only: item control page