The controversy surrounding the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism has raised unprecedented questions about the communication of health and science. Health, Risk and News: The MMR Vaccine and the Media examines how this story came to be so influential and asks if the media are to blame for unduly panicking the public. Drawing on comprehensive research on media coverage, interviews with a range of journalists and sources, and analysis of audience opinion this book explores how medical controversies are covered, with attention to issues of balance and objectivity, expertise, news values, risk and media effects. It will be of interest to students and scholars of media studies, journalists and health professionals.

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The Author: Tammy Boyce is a Research Fellow and Deputy Director of the Risk, Science, Health and the Media group at Cardiff University. She received her Ph.D. from Cardiff University and continues to research media coverage of risk, science and health issues and the production and reception of these stories.