Nontransparent health risk communication during the COVID-19 pandemic in 3 German news outlets

Effective communication of health risks in the news media is essential for enabling informed decision-making among the public. To this end, health reporting should present baseline risks alongside the potential benefits and harms of interventions, using transparent numerical formats such as absolute risks and well-defined reference classes. Public concern over unclear risk communication during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to assess reporting practices and identify areas for improvement. In this study, we analyzed 1,397 news articles from three major German outlets covering pandemic-related topics. Our findings indicate that while reports on mask-wearing rarely included numbers, articles on COVID-19-related mortality and vaccination frequently did —though often in nontransparent ways. The baseline risk of mortality was often reported as raw frequencies without standardized reference classes. Additionally, articles tended to emphasize either benefits or harms of vaccination, with benefits often framed as relative risks and harms as absolute risks, complicating direct comparison. These practices may hinder readers’ ability to accurately assess risks and make informed decisions. To enhance transparency and improve public understanding, journalists need targeted training and access to tools that support evidence-based risk communication. Supporting these practices could foster more informed choices and help strengthen public trust in health reporting.