News Coverage of the COVID-19 Outbreak: Thematic Analysis of a Portuguese Quality Newspaper

News coverage can play a vital role during public health crises, raising awareness about potential risks, informing response efforts, and encouraging preventive behaviors. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased precariousness of journalists while introducing new challenges in their work. This article presents results thematic analysis 612 news articles initial stages outbreak Portugal, published Portuguese quality newspaper from January to March 2020. Results show relevance geographical cultural proximity as values international coverage. While quantification cases deaths was prominent theme domestic coverage, specific infection were frequent news, general epidemiological indicators more often main events Portugal also focused on containment mitigation measures, found states emergency lockdowns newsworthy. As for sources, there clear dependence officials press releases Direção-Geral de Saúde information sources. The experiences opinions people speaking individuals not behalf organizations much less frequent.