Abstract:

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has not only modified the protocols for medical action in the face of epidemics of respiratory infections in the world; The way the media handles health contingencies has also changed. In the opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO), in this case the communication is not collateral, but an integral part of the health response and is considered “one more public health intervention” (Risk Communication and COVID-19, 2020). It means that, if accurate, prompt and frequent information is provided, in a language that people understand and through reliable channels, the population will be able to make decisions and adopt positive behaviors to protect themselves and their loved ones (Organización Panamericana de la Health, 2020). Not all people perceive risk in the same way and real risk is not the same as perceived risk. Although, for example, health and specialized personnel decide what is risky based on a threat analysis, the public will do so based on their values, emotions and concerns (Risk Communication and COVID-19, 2020). This work summarizes the follow-up that the Center for Demographic Studies (CEDEM) of the University of Havana has been giving to the relationship between the role of the press in Cuba and the construction of the risk perception of diverse populations. In this case, the behavior of selected media in four stages of the pandemic, which runs until January 25, 2021, is comparatively analyzed.

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