A content analysis examined health risk communication statements in national and local press coverage in 1988 of a controversy over proposed legislation to regulate the use of video display terminals (VDTs) in the workplace in Suffolk County, New York. The health risk communication statements from a total of 55 randomly selected articles were categorized as cognitive or affective statements and as alarming, reassuring, neutral or balanced (both alarming and reassuring) statements. The articles were selected from the "New York Times," the Long Island edition of "Newsday," and "Suffolk Life." Results showed that national and local newspapers differed significantly in the percent of cognitive and reassuring risk information they presented, but not in the percent of affective or alarming information they presented. In addition, national and local newspapers differed significantly in their use of health risk frames for articles. No significant differences for any of the variables were found between the local newspapers. (Five tables of data are included, and two appendixes and 48 references are attached.) (Author/PRA)