Dynamics of Public Risk Perception and Media Coverage: The Cases of Climate Change, Terrorism and Demographic Change

Many societal risks are beyond the scope of personal experience. Thus, people are increasingly dependent on third-party information to assess risks. This study examines the dynamics of public risk perception by focusing on the role of media coverage. It does so by comparing public opinion on selected societal risks, namely climate change, terrorism and demographic change over a 25-year period (1990-2015). The analysis examines risk perception in the US and Germany and provides valuable insights into how and why the public’s assessment of risks differs in these countries.