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Saved by the news? COVID-19 in German news and its relationship with regional mobility behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Burcu Ozgun
  • Tom Broekel

Abstract

There are substantial differences across regions regarding COVID-19 infections and deaths, which are partly explained by differences in practicing social distancing. In this paper we argue that the portrayal of COVID-19 in regional media might be an important factor in explaining regional differences in social distancing. By using mobility as a proxy, and analysing data on regional news coverage in Germany, we investigate empirically whether the geographical heterogeneity in COVID-19-related news reporting has translated into spatial variations in social distancing. Our results confirm that the frequency of and the element of fear in COVID-19 news have a significant, albeit time-varying, relationship with social distancing.

Suggested Citation

  • Burcu Ozgun & Tom Broekel, 2024. "Saved by the news? COVID-19 in German news and its relationship with regional mobility behaviour," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(2), pages 365-380, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:58:y:2024:i:2:p:365-380
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2022.2145012
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    Cited by:

    1. Berle, Erika Christie & Broekel, Tom, 2025. "Spinning stories: Wind turbines and local narrative landscapes in Germany," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    2. Tom Broekel, 2025. "Feeling The Heartbeat Of Regions: Local News And Economic Sentiments," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2519, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2025.
    3. Nolte, Kerstin & Schaefer, Kerstin J., 2024. "Widening the gap? Evidence from Germany for changes in the attitude behaviour gap for transportation during COVID-19," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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