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A good example of how the media influence the attitude of humans to the animal world.
During Halloween, the media is often keen to create exciting stories about bats, adding myths about blood-sucking vampires or bats that can nest in the hair. However, by presenting bats exclusively as a threat to human health, the media creates a distorted perception of these animals, which undermines decades of conservation efforts.
A recent international study that analyzed more than 1,000 publications in 15 newspapers from the five most populous countries in Western Europe, published before 2019, found that the perception of bats as a health threat contributes to the formation of a culture of fear. Most disease-related articles presented bats as a health threat (80%), while environmental articles showed them in a more neutral light (97%).
The authors of the study said that many stereotypes associated with bats are reinforced due to sensational media coverage. This representation in the media also arouses more interest among readers, which is confirmed by the number of comments on articles that emphasize the threat to health from bats.
Fear, fueled by the media, spreads quickly, and respect and understanding of the importance of bats take time to form. In fact, bats play a key role in the ecosystem: they control the mosquito population, distribute seeds, and pollinate plants. Scientists urge the media to cover this topic in a more balanced way in order to change public perception and help in the conservation of the species. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to highlight the positive aspects of bats and their contribution to ecosystem health.
During Halloween, the media is often keen to create exciting stories about bats, adding myths about blood-sucking vampires or bats that can nest in the hair. However, by presenting bats exclusively as a threat to human health, the media creates a distorted perception of these animals, which undermines decades of conservation efforts.
A recent international study that analyzed more than 1,000 publications in 15 newspapers from the five most populous countries in Western Europe, published before 2019, found that the perception of bats as a health threat contributes to the formation of a culture of fear. Most disease-related articles presented bats as a health threat (80%), while environmental articles showed them in a more neutral light (97%).
The authors of the study said that many stereotypes associated with bats are reinforced due to sensational media coverage. This representation in the media also arouses more interest among readers, which is confirmed by the number of comments on articles that emphasize the threat to health from bats.
Fear, fueled by the media, spreads quickly, and respect and understanding of the importance of bats take time to form. In fact, bats play a key role in the ecosystem: they control the mosquito population, distribute seeds, and pollinate plants. Scientists urge the media to cover this topic in a more balanced way in order to change public perception and help in the conservation of the species. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to highlight the positive aspects of bats and their contribution to ecosystem health.