Our gutter press is a travesty

[Redolent]

Of all the UK’s many, many missteps in this crisis - not implementing quarantine measures for all those half term arrivals, abandoning containment/community testing on 12th March, allowing Crufts/Cheltenham/3000 Madrid supporters to enter the country, failing to secure PPE early on, etc etc etc

...losing control of the lockdown messaging must surely count as one of the worst. And our embarrassing, irresponsible press is partly to blame too. Where’s the accountability?

*

John Drury, professor of social psychology at the University of Sussex, and a member of Sage:

“The rightwing media’s language and premature celebration of the supposed end of lockdown is dangerous and irresponsible framing of what might be about to happen,” he said, warning that the messaging was at odds with the continued need to maintain the handwashing and physical distancing that will still be needed.

“These headlines risk creating a normative climate where people think that we can all go straight back to the old ‘normal’,” he said.

Nothing to add other than I totally agree.

It’s not just right wing media though is it? When people say that they automatically create divisive discourse.

It is the right wing media though. It's hardly the Guardian saying it.

Have you read Guardian recently (not at all left wing) or the seen the BBC coverage?

The Guardian was also overindulging in speculation imo - all this stuff about sunbathing and picnics being allowed, as their main headline yesterday. I also think that’s irresponsible.

But the right wing press was certainly more jubilant/celebratory as evidenced here.

The Guardian is not left wing.

Oh no! That’s why mum is so optimistic about next week.

Bloody hell. (I don’t see newspapers, I didn’t know this was so silly).

I’m still flummoxed how many people needed handwashing advice in the first place though.

Wonder how many extra deaths there will be thanks to these ridiculous headlines.

@LilacTree1

Exactly the same! I called my mum today and she was positively beaming, ‘well they’ll be easing down everything anyway right?’ GOSH NO! I

Absolutely agree op, it's shocking

The front pages today were a total disgrace - absolute opposite of responsible journalism.

However the Gvt have to take some responsibility because of the way they are drip feeding info and therefore not controlling the message which results in speculation.

It's a nightmare. My sister is angry at me because I won't let her visit next week because "the papers" said she would be allowed. She's been off sat drinking in a park with friends all day with loads of others and it doesn't matter because "it will all be over soon anyway".
So sick of it all.

I get you!

I think lockdown will be eased and agree with it being eased but NO way is it going to be a case of go out and do what you like. It will be eased in phases, maybe a baby step every 7-10 days or so would be my guess and these shit papers is giving people false hope about living going back to normal Monday- they should be ashamed!

Eased does not equal over

I think those hoping for significant easing of lockdown measures are going to be very disappointed on Sunday.

Being played by Government who are testing waters re easing lockdown - a survey of public opinion via media (all of whom are shit scared of being seen to lose ground re readers so are playing along) Traditional red tops will always play the game and over simplify. Sad thing is no one is calling this charade out (“left” or right)

Too many people want lockdown to end as soon as possible.

Be careful what you wish for...

I have explained to mum that it will likely only be work related and the Tube will be unable to cope so that it will impact on my chances of seeing her

But I think they will say nothing about visiting friends and family anyway.

She's been off sat drinking in a park with friends all day with loads of others and it doesn't matter because "it will all be over soon anyway".

Oh dear .... This is why the Swedish approach wouldn’t work here.

Completely agree.
I'm ashamed of our tabloid press, they make the people of this nation look like a bunch of ignorant, racist, bullies with the reading age of an eight year old. Maybe that's what we are though if that's what we buy and reflects our views.

I agree...BUT...with pretty much all of the papers carrying the same kind of message this morning, it's hard not to think that they must have been briefed by Downing Street that something more would be announced this weekend than we are now being told to expect. By backpedalling on yesterday's message today, the government can maximise confusion and has better deniability. When their cackhanded management of the pandemic continues to result in a soaring death toll, I'm gonna take a wild guess it will be our fault and the media's fault. Anyone's fault but theirs.