The use of evidence in public debates in the media: the case of Swiss direct-democratic campaigns in the health policy sector

Stucki, Iris (2015). The use of evidence in public debates in the media: the case of Swiss direct-democratic campaigns in the health policy sector. Evidence and Policy, 12(4), pp. 487-504. Policy Press 10.1332/174426415X14375563594446

Full text not available from this repository.

This article analyses the reporting of evidence in Swiss direct-democratic campaigns in the health policy sector, assuming that an informed public helps democracy function successfully. A content analysis of the media’s news reporting shows that of 5030 media items retrieved, a reference to evidence is found in 6.8%. The voter receives evidence in the form of substantiating arguments, equally distributed among proponents and opponents. Experts have the highest chance of providing evidence, but appear most rarely. Integrating more evidence might provide voters with the diversity of arguments needed to make a truly informed decision.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	11 Centers of Competence > KPM Center for Public Management
UniBE Contributor:	Stucki, Iris
Subjects:	300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 320 Political science 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 350 Public administration & military science
ISSN:	1744-2648
Publisher:	Policy Press
Funders:	[4] Swiss National Science Foundation
Language:	English
Submitter:	Iris Stucki
Date Deposited:	24 Nov 2015 16:01
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:48
Publisher DOI:	10.1332/174426415X14375563594446
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Policy evaluation • direct-democratic campaigns • news media • health policy
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/70806