AIBU to think that the media should report on Coronavirus more appropriately?

[goldpendant]

I think the constant live blogs, minute by minute case reports are going to contribute hugely to widespread panic and increased social anxiety?

AIBU to think our government should be calling on the media to tone it down, as Italy have been instructed to do?

I agree YANBU

I agree. YANBU at all.

Even when school trips have self isolated due to being in northern Italy, the local papers aren't being sensible. It's a precaution and doesn't need a full online article shared on all social media.

Freedom of the press is important. If you allow the government to dictate to them about this then you will open the floodgates to the government providing only the info they want to give us about other things.We need the truth.

I was talking to a journalist friend about this yesterday. She agrees too and she writes all this stuff. The sensationalist tabloid approach creates frenzy and panic.

The media never reports anything accurately so I can’t see it’s gonna change for this.

Yes freedom of the press is important but surely the press also have a responsibility to report facts without creating hysteria.

Yeah our local rag put up a pic of ambulances outside someone’s house with paramedics in hazmat suits. Really inappropriate and making people worry!
posting pictures of someone’s house is out of line. They didn’t even have it and no one here has it yet.

Yanbu

Agree - I think live reporting generally (whatever the incident, terrorism, flooding, corona etc) contributes to sensationalism and legitimises Twitter reporting

Accurate information is important in preventing panic. A press blackout would lead to wild speculation and much worse panic!
The press have been quite good on pointing out that the death risk for young adults is only 0.2%, and for babies and children it’s zero. My generation (pensioners) is the only one that needs to feel even slightly concerned! (Apart, obviously, from people with comorbidities).

I agree! Even R4 this morning struck me as being hysterical and it's a programme I rely on for calm, balanced views of the news when most other news outlets are behaving like headless chickens. I had to switch it off, because I didn't want my DC to hear it and be alarmed. You expect that kind of crap from the tabloids, but not from the BBC.

Of course they have freedom to report what they like, but equally this has to be balanced with what's good for society! The press have ran riot with 24hr coverage on this for almost two months now.

At what point is it ok for someone (gov't, PHE, regulatory bodies) to say "enough"?!

Major updates - daily bulletin, vaccine development progress etc is of course newsworthy but headline news every time a single case is detected is just madness when we're in the grip of a possible pandemic. We need appropriate and calm responses to this across the board, that must extend to the media also.

Case in point attached from the BBC. Deliberate eye catching imagery which isn't helpful.

@Babdoc I'm certainly not suggesting a press blackout, just sensible, calm, appropriate updates, e.g a daily bulletin in place of live blogging every minor development.

I've enjoyed the longer stories that have come out of China, interviews with or written by the people who have lived the lockdown. I'm not saying there's no place for reporting in this, but that it's become a bit brash, which won't be helping the situation.

For example, reporting on the hand sanitiser stockpiling, leads to more people trying to panic buy hand sanitiser.

I have to say I'm usually very level headed but I'm feeling really anxious about this virus. I've already told my partner I don't want to travel abroad, the place we want to go has no cases yet but the thought of travelling through an airport/on a plane right now makes me feel sick. I haven't even taken my baby to be weighed as it's at a local mini hospital and a hospital a bus ride away was the one the lady turned up in in an uber testing positive!! There is a small part of me that really wants to stockpile food too!! I'm fully aware I sound crazy so I don't want to be flamed but maybe it's because everywhere I turn, there is something about this. I know I sound crazy and maybe that's the baby hormones too!

People are being pathetic with their panicking on my social media feeds. There’s no reason at all to start panicking and stockpiling.

The reality is a choice between a free (and sometimes sensational) press or a state-controlled news function a la USSR or N Korea.

IMO, reading news critically is something we should all be trained in. (Maybe in PSHE at school, though I know teachers will yell at me for that suggestion due to time constraints).

If you’re anxious stick to the BBC or similar, who are pretty responsible and calm about things.

A lot of the press are focussing on the worst case sensational clickbait stuff, like they do with most ‘stories’. It’s a nice little earner for them.

I agree! Even R4 this morning struck me as being hysterical and it's a programme I rely on for calm, balanced views of the news when most other news outlets are behaving like headless chickens. I had to switch it off, because I didn't want my DC to hear it and be alarmed. You expect that kind of crap from the tabloids, but not from the BBC.
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I didn’t hear the Today programme this morning. Roughly what time did they cover corona virus?

I am sure government scientists are concerned to a degree. What would help is the public reacting proportionately.

I agree. Media is a business, and fear sells.

I’m of the view that the reaction to COVID has the potential to be more harming than the virus itself.

I’m ok with numbers reported but I don’t watch the news and select how I get the news.

It’s reported on here of course but there are a range of posts on the topic from anxious to blasé

Worst bit of scaremongering I came across was a bit in our local journal citing the local authorities are preparing for the possible outbreak by considering where mass graves could be dug. (or words to that effect) I kid you not. It's actually revoltingly distasteful to print such sensationalised crap.

It's all just ridiculously over the top. There have been 2,900 deaths in a population of 7.7 billion. You have far more chance of winning the lottery this weekend (1 in 45 million) than catching this virus.

I heard a bit of R4 I can never get the whole section due to dc talking. Some of the words felt strong but I appreciated the bit on wearing masks (don’t bother in public as you need to be very stringent with the right use).

I have to say I'm usually very level headed

I don't mean to be rude, but given the rest of your post I find that hard to believe.

I’d rather have access to information than not and if that’s a medical expert on the topic on R4 then great.