Majority Think UK Government COVID-19 Response Worse Than Other Developed Countries, Almost Half Say Response Too Focused On Protecting the Economy

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, 2020

7 Pages Posted: 9 Oct 2020

See all articles by Richard Fletcher

Richard Fletcher

University of Oxford - Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Antonis Kalogeropoulos

University of Oxford - Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism; University of Liverpool - Department of Communication and Media

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen

University of Oxford - Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Date Written: July 14, 2020

Abstract

In this RISJ Factsheet we examine how people think about the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and how different institutions in the UK have responded to it. This is the seventh in a series of ten factsheets based on an ongoing online panel survey of a representative sample of the UK population, fielded from 2 July to 8 July 2020. We find that: (i) a majority (57%) of the public say they think the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been worse than most other developed countries (up from 46% in late April), (ii) almost half (44%) feel that the government response is too focused on protecting the economy (up from 19%), but (iii) perception of news media coverage of the government is largely unchanged, with one third (33%) saying the coverage has not been critical enough, 26% too critical, and 28% saying coverage has been fair.

Keywords: news, polarisation, government, UK, coronavirus, COVID-19

Suggested Citation

Fletcher, Richard and Kalogeropoulos, Antonis and Kalogeropoulos, Antonis and Nielsen, Rasmus Kleis, Majority Think UK Government COVID-19 Response Worse Than Other Developed Countries, Almost Half Say Response Too Focused On Protecting the Economy (July 14, 2020). Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3704268

Richard Fletcher (Contact Author)

University of Oxford - Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism ( email )

13 Norham Gardens
Oxford, OX2 6PS
United Kingdom

Antonis Kalogeropoulos

University of Liverpool - Department of Communication and Media ( email )

19-23 Abercromby Square
Liverpool, L69 7ZG

University of Oxford - Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism ( email )

13 Norham Gardens
Oxford, OX2 6PS
United Kingdom

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen

University of Oxford - Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism ( email )

13 Norham Gardens
Oxford, OX2 6PS
United Kingdom

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