Accurate Reporting on Virus Is a Minefield for the Media
NEW YORK — Covering the coronavirus story requires careful navigation and constant attention.
News organizations trying to responsibly report on the growing health crisis are confronted with the task of conveying its seriousness without provoking panic, keeping up with a torrent of information while much remains a mystery and continually advising readers and viewers how to stay safe.
“It’s a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week, around-the-world story,” said Michael Slackman, assistant managing editor, international at The New York Times.
The Times maintains a live news blog about the coronavirus that is refreshed 24 hours a day, with editors in New York, London and Hong Kong dividing responsibility. The Slack channel set up by Associated Press journalists to discuss coverage among themselves and contribute to the story has more than 400 members. Starting Monday, NBC News is turning its morning newsletter solely into a vehicle for talking about the disease.
The coronavirus has sickened thousands, quarantined millions and sent financial markets reeling — all while some cultural critics say the story is overblown.
“It’s hard to tell people to put something into context and to calm down when the actions being taken in many cases are very strong or unprecedented,” said Glen Nowak, director of the Grady College Center for Health and Risk Communication at the University of Georgia.
But that’s what journalists in charge of coverage say they need to do.
“We have been providing a lot of explainers, Q-and-A’s, trying to lay out in clear, simple language what the symptoms are and what the disease means for people,” said Jon Fahey, health and science editor at the AP.
Fear is a natural response when people read about millions of people locked down in China, he said. Yet it’s also true that, right now, the individual risk to people is very small.
Late last week, the Times’ Vivian Wang tried to illustrate some of the complexities in writing about a disease that has struck more than 80,000 people, with a death toll approaching 3,000. Most people have mild symptoms — good fortune that paradoxically can make the disease harder to contain because many won’t realize they have the coronavirus, she noted.
“I keep reminding the viewers that still, based on two very large studies, the vast majority of people who get this infection are not going to get sick,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s medical correspondent. “They’re going to have a mild illness, if any, and they’re going to recover. This tends to be very reassuring to people. But I don’t want to minimize this. We’re dealing with something that is growing and becoming a legitimate pandemic.”
“Pandemic” — defined by Webster’s as an outbreak that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population — is one of the scary-sounding words and phrases that some journalists take care about using.
Fahey said the AP avoids calling it a “deadly” disease because, for most people, it isn’t. Dr. John Torres, medical correspondent at NBC News, edits out phrases like “horrific” or “catastrophic.”
“I try not to delve too much in adjectives,” Torres said.
Nearly every day brings word of more cases, in more countries. That’s news. Yet should journalists consider the cumulative impact of a statistical drumbeat? “At some point the numbers become less meaningful,” Gupta said.
Images, too, merit careful consideration. Pictures of people wearing face masks often illustrate stories, despite evidence that the masks matter little in transmission of the virus, Nowak said.
Sensational headlines can grab attention yet also unnecessarily frighten. An Atlantic magazine article last week was headlined “You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus.”
Sensationalism actually tends to decline in these situations, said Peter Sandman, a consultant and expert in risk communication.
“Reporters love to sensationalize trivia or rare risks — think flesh-eating bacteria — to give their audience a vicarious thrill,” Sandman said. “But when risks get serious and widespread, media coverage gets sober.”
The words and actions of journalists and other public figures send signals of their own.
CNN’s Gupta has talked about people needing to consider “social distancing” if pockets of infection build in the United States. He has revealed on the air that his own house is stocked with supplies in case his family has to remain home for any period of time.
“People could be frightened by that,” Gupta conceded. “It’s not the intent. It’s in the way that you convey these things.”
It was news last week, and also a little scary, when it was revealed that a federal health official had checked on the coronavirus readiness of her child’s school district. Donald G. McNeil, a science reporter at The New York Times, attracted attention for talking about his own preparedness on the newspaper’s podcast, “The Daily.”
“I spend a lot of time thinking about whether I’m being too alarmist or whether I’m not being alarmist enough,” he said.
Besides constantly reminding people about basics of the disease, journalists say it’s important to explain what they don’t know.
“It lets them know that we’re not just ignoring the questions or dismissing them, and it’s an opportunity to show readers how science progresses in real time,” said Laura Helmuth, health and science editor at The Washington Post.
The Post’s Lena H. Sun and Yasmeen Abutaleb wrote last week about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sending workers without proper training or protective gear to meet the first Americans who left the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan, China.
The virus produces a seemingly endless supply of stories that stretch beyond the medical: Wall Street’s tumble, school and business closings, concert cancellations. The makers of Corona beer denied reports that the similarity of its name to the virus was hurting business. Italians are shying away from traditional kisses on the cheek. Churchgoers are nervous about handshake greetings of peace.
Last Thursday, the AP listed 17 coronavirus stories on the digest it sends to subscribers, including pieces from Japan, Italy, Australia, South Korea and China.
The Times takes pride in how it profiled the lives of people stuck in Wuhan, through reporting by Chris Buckley, Amy Qin and Elsie Chen. Such front-line reporting illustrates another need: The paper maintains a hotline with a medical professional to answer questions from reporters concerned about their own health, Slackman said.
As is inevitable in divided times, the coronavirus has become a political issue in the United States, where commentators are weighing in on how President Donald Trump is reacting to the crisis. On Fox News, Donald Trump Jr. said of the Democrats: “For them to try to take a pandemic, and hope it comes here and kills millions of people so they can end Donald Trump’s streak of winning, is a new level of sickness.”
CNN’s Gupta said he tries to be wary of what politicians say about the coronavirus.
“As a medical journalist, I don’t have the luxury of just getting somebody’s opinion about something,” he said.
Source: https://www.truthdig.com/articles/accurate-reporting-on-virus-is-a-minefield-for-the-media/
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Whistler Blowers, Insiders
Rewrite – NEWS ORGANISATIONS – ARE TASKED WITH …. SCOURING – FOR “FEAR PORN” HEADLINES – TO KEEP PUSHING
- THE PROPAGANDA NARRATIVE >> FACT
READ ON >>>
SOME HARD FACTS – RE CARONAVIRUS – WELL WORTH YOUR TIME
………………………………………………………………………………….
28 February 2020 >>> WHO Director-General’s…. opening remarks
As of 6am Geneva time this morning, China has reported a total of 78,959 cases of COVID-19 to WHO, including 2791 deaths.
Outside China, there are now 4351 cases>>>> in 49 countries, >>>>and 67 deaths.
Our greatest enemy right now ….is not the virus itself. …. It’s >>>> fear & rumours
https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—28-february-2020
…………………………………………….
REPEAT WORLDWIDE … OUTSIDE CHINA >>> A TINY TINY INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF …. TOTAL DEATHS >>> JUST 67
….. BEING PREDOMINANTLY – THE USUAL _ THE OLD, – THOSE WITH SERIOUS UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS – THE IMMUNO-COMPROMISED – AND THOSE ALREADY NEAR DEATH ANYWAY.
…………………………………………….
IN ADDITION FEB 25th
RECOVERIES – ARE ALREADY SURPASSING ……the total number of …..daily new infections
for the first time.
That occurred on February 19th, …. according to Johns Hopkins University tracking, when there were 439 new cases…. and approximately >>>> 1,800 recoveries.
The trend has continued since then >>> with fewer than 600 new confirmed COVID-19 cases each day >>>> and an even greater number ….of recoveries.
https://www.statista.com/chart/20943/new-daily-confirmed-covid-19-cases-and-recoveries
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
YES … It’s A – Cute Pussycat Of A Virus – In VIRAL TERMS (Yes Really) – READ ON >>>>
Some TRUTH, FACTS & ACTUAL GENUINE USEFUL INFO
THE TRUTH IS >>> The Caronavirus PlayBook Is Already Written.
It’s just a repeat of ……the H1N1 Swine Flu (SARS, MERS, BIRD FLU, EBOLA) – They All Run
The Same – Fake Propaganda Virus Playbook
And We Are – Just heading into – Chapter 2.
So How Did SWINE FLU H1N1 PANDEMIC END >>> Well …, At The End Of 18 months of Swine Flu – Fear Porn
- The World Health Organisation WHO declared …. the pandemic over – & during the >>> 18 months it had killed JUST ..18,500 people globally
- averaging the figures of lab confirmed deaths – from the 214 countries that report to the W.H.O
>>>> That averages out at >>>> LESS THAN 90 (as in Ninety) …. Swine Flu Deaths Per Country
……………………………………………………………….
In Hindsight The 18 months of relentless fear porn fake propaganda headlines, >>> were over ……an insignificant, irrelevant virus – Killing On Average …. Just 90 People – PER Country !!
………………………………………………
QUOTE W.H.O OWN WEBSITE
6 August 2010 – As of 1 August 2010, worldwide… more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities >>>> have reported laboratory confirmed cases …. of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over >>> 18449 deaths.
LINK TO W.H.O. OFFICIAL WEBSITE Confirmation Of Above FACT !! >>> https://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_08_06/en/
And – This CARONAVIRUS >>> Will Be A Repeat.
……………………………………..
Caronavirus Took 2 Months/60 Days To Kill 2,400 (ie a TINY 40 Per Day)
- of old, sick, frail, immuno-compromised and already on their last legs Chinese
- Up to 95% of Infected – Have Symptoms – So Mild – They Won’t Even Notice
- and in most countries – hasn’t even reached a THOUSAND infected
Regular Annual Flu – Kills 88,000 …Chinese per year
7 Million Chinese… Die Of All Causes Per Year
-vs- Caronavirus – UNDER 3,000 !!!
Read the facts – Engage Brain & Common Sense – It’s an insignificant irrelevance – the rest is Rinse & Repeat VIRAL FEAR PORN
……………………………………………………….…
LETS GET AN OVERALL OPINION FROM EXPERTS – AT THE UK NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (PUBLISHED IN A UK NATIONAL NEWSPAPER) – THE INDEPENDENT
28/Feb/2020 …. QUOTE….
“As a member of the public….. you might get… coronavirus
>>> but your chances…. of being ill …. and in hospital >>>>>is not high.
On a person …. by person basis >>>>>> IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
(UNQUOTE)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-uk-deaths-nhs-intensive-care-flu-wise-men-protocol-a9361916.html
…………………………………………………………………………………
So – Total Prepping Required – IF you are one of the …very few that do get infected
- and NOT one of the 90/95% infected that exhibit >>> NO Symptoms
Or Symptoms >>>> So MILD – You Would’t Even Notice Them …..
- then…………
It may be prudent to perhaps – buy a small box ….of paper hankerchiefs/tissues… & Voila …..FULLY PREPPED & Ready
>>> READ ON
…………………………………
LETS GET INITIAL OFFICIAL >>> GOVERNMENT CONFIRMATION ….(Fuller Details Lower Down on THE ACTUAL NUMBERS)
………….CANADIAN GOVERNMENT / HEALTH CANADA …………….
QUOTE “coronaviruses are common …..and are typically associated ….with mild illnesses,
similar to the common cold. (Unquote)
QUOTE >>> Those who are infected with COVID-19 may >>>>have little to >>> NO symptoms.
You may… NOT KNOW ……you have symptoms ….of COVID-19
because they are similar to …. a COLD or flu. (UNQUOTE)
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/symptoms.html
(& see Quotes At Bottom)
…………………………………….…………….
For the… very few …that do get infected noticeable symptoms, …. typical signs include
- A RUNNY NOSE
- A COUGH
- A SORE THROAT / Fever (high temperature).
The vast majority of patients – at least 97 per cent, ….. based on available data – will recover from these
>>>> without any issues ….. or medical help.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7987001/Death-toll-killer-coronavirus-10-TIMES-higher-average-Chinas-Hubei-province.html
………………………………………………….
Its such a happy clappy insignificant symptoms virus – its about as pleasant as you could make – thank you to God or Whoever
- A Good Job !
Lest We Forget ….. Ooooh 53 Suspected Cases Out Of 300 MILLION Americans – That’s ‘erm, well – nicely .… very significantly LESS than a PI$$ In The Ocean too really ….isn’t it
And Based On How Things Have Gone In CHINA So Far – It A case Of >>>> READ ON
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
MOVE ALONG FOLKS – NOTHING TO SEE HERE – ALL OVER – JUST MOVE ALONG – GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES
CHINA
Yes 2,400 Died Of Caronavirous in 2 months (60 Days) – An Average >>> Really VERY TINY >> 40 Deaths A Day
- Seasonal Flu Kills An Average 88,000 Per Year (Caronavirus Has Managed 2,400)
- 7 MILLION Chinese Die Per Year – Caronavirus Has Accounted For 2,400
And Studies/Reports State whilst there are only 80,000 Confirmed Infections – There Will be >>> 10X that number
- YES 3/4 MILLION + with Symptoms SO MILD – they Won’t EVEN NOTICE THEM
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
So Move Along Folks – Everywhere Is Opening Up Again – Just Move Along Folks – It Was Just The Usual Fear PORN – Move Along …CONTINUED
INTERNATIONAL NEWS CHANEL RT NEWS ….. Evidence …..
>>>> Propaganda Fatigue ….Setting In
Already Macau CHINA , the world’s biggest gambling hub, …..will allow casinos to…. resume operations from…. February 20,
…. after authorities imposed a two-week suspension to curb the coronavirus’ spread, authorities said on Monday,
Macau has not reported >>> any new cases of the virus>>> since February 4, … officials said (As At 20 Feb)
.
There have been >>>> ONLY 10 … confirmed cases of the virus >>> in total there.
Government services, which had mostly been suspended since the start of February, ….. have gradually resumed operations this week.
https://www.rt.com/newsline/481005-macau-casinos-virus-fear/
So Move Along Folks – Move Along – Nothing To see Here – Get On With Life – It’s All Over Folks 2,400 deaths and new cases plummeting -
DEATHS >> Predominantly Sick, Elderly, Immunocompromised, & usual already on their last legs ….. out of 1.3 BILLION CHINESE
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
NB 10 February 2020 BLOOMBERG
The new coronavirus might have infected….. at least 500,000 people in Wuhan, ….the Chinese city at the epicenter of the global outbreak, …..by the time it peaks in coming weeks.
But…… most of those people…..>>>> won’t even know it.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-08/virus-outbreak-in-wuhan-may-soon-peak-with-more-than-5-infected
…………………………………………….
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Thousands of people in China and elsewhere ….have been infected ….. but have had…
>>>> such mild reactions that >>>> no one even noticed,
- said Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-01-24/china-coronavirus-panic
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
The UK’s NATIONAL BBC News COMMENTS
– Re INFECTED – HAVING SUCH MILD REACTIONS >>> NO ONE NOTICED
>>> FROM THE LARGEST STUDY TO DATE (The paper by the CCDC, released on Monday and published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, looked at more than 44,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in China as of 11 February
………………………………….
– So Known Infections Quoted In Study – 72,436 x 10 = 724,000 Who Will Have Had Symptoms – Too Mild – To Notice
– YES >> ¾ Million
…………………………………..
QUOTE >>> Re The Known 72,436 infections
- Scientists have estimated there could be …..10 times as many people infected ….. as are ending up in the official statistics.
That ALSO means the….. overall death rate IN THE REST OF CHINA (Outside Hubei) is likely to be
>>> lower than the 0.4% (rest of China) reported in this study (ie 10X LOWER – Making the death rate potentially ONLY 0.04)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51540981
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So Theres Proof Of Precedence – How This Caronavirus Runs
So Ignore the PROPAGANDA FEAR PORN – ENGAGE BRAIN PUT COMMON SENSE IN GEAR & JUST PARTY ON