The researchers analyzed all broadcasts of “Het Journaal” on One and “Het Nieuws” on VTM between January and October 2020. In total, no less than 60 percent of all airtime of the news broadcasts went to news about corona. On One there were 23 days on which “Het Journaal” was exclusively about corona, especially during the period of the first wave. At VTM there were 9.
Even when the first wave was over, the attention in the news programs remained at a high level. In addition, the news broadcasts also lasted a lot longer. On average, the length of the news news for both channels increased by 18 percent. In no year since 2003, when the University of Antwerp launched the news monitor, have the news broadcasts been longer.
Due to the abundant corona coverage, other subjects had to die. The share of political news halved, while in other years that subject receives the most attention and, moreover, we had an important government formation last year. And other themes that were prominent before 2020, such as crime and the environment, were also much less discussed. Foreign news also received a smaller share of the cake, and a large part was also about corona.
The researchers also identify a clear need for information among the public. “A peak in the coverage of corona was invariably accompanied by a peak in the viewing figures”, it sounds.
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