| This study explores the strategic and graphic characteristics of infographics and data visualizations for epidemic issues and examines their inter-relationships. A content analysis was conducted by using 254 infographics for six epidemic crises (Ebola, SARS, MERS, H1N1, Bird flu, and Zika) from health organizations and news media. Results show that infographics has been used in diverse purposes of communication, not only for delivery of general information but also for persuasion for people's behavior change. Neutral images and graphics are more frequently detected than emotional appeals like fear and humor. Graphic types tend to be used differently by specific communication goal and organization type. The findings indicate the current use of infographics in the context of health and risk communication and offer several suggestions for future studies about infographics. |
