Warning of potential disasters from outer space: A case study of coverage of asteroid threats

This study addresses issues related to mass media coverage of the threat of asteroid collisions with the earth and speculation on potential mass and catastrophic damage, injury and death. It explores the role of the mass media in reporting the danger of major asteroid impacts, when such impacts are less frequent, but potentially more damaging than disasters related to volcanoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes or earthquakes. The study includes interviews with aerospace scientists contributing to determinations about what narrative structures and techniques are most effective in explaining through the mass media important scientific research on asteroid and other space object threats, without resorting to shallowness and sensationalism.