The way the BBC have reported the impact of coronavirus is so misleading and bias it amounts to fake news.
The latest example was the way the BBC fueled peoples anxiety about how the new strain of coronavirus was affecting children. Instead of reporting the most up to date information from a national perspective or even gathering a broad set of opinions they chose to interview one person. A hospital matrons talked of how "scary" the new strain was for nurses and doctors and everyone working on the front line with "whole wards" full of children with coronavirus. She compared it to the situation in March when children were only minimally affected. This one scary opinion was broadcast unchallenged and her role as a Matron gave her opinion "expert" status despite her expertise being limited. This from a trusted and national broadcaster so hardly surprising that this would lead people to believe that their children were now in serious danger.
twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1345006866829463552
In this case this news prompted a response from the President of the Royal College of Child health to point out that "As of now" there was not significant pressure from Covid-19 on paediatrics, no evidence that children were experiencing more severe symptoms and that the overwhelming majority of young people who catch coronavirus have no symptoms or mild symptoms.
twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1345006866829463552
The BBC did later put an article on their website giving voice to those with more expertise and knowledge but this whole weight of knowledge was still balance by this one Matrons opinion with her view given prominence in the article.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55518248
The original fake reports of hospital wards were the ones chosen by the BBC to be broadcast and were seen by the greatest number of people. Even when experts who could give a more truthful picture came forward this was not given prominence and false information continued to be circulated. This at a time when there was pressure to close schools indefinitely in the UK. The BBC fueling fears about children being at risk of serious injuries or death has lead people to believe that schools should be shut to protect children. However children are safe in school the only justification for shutting schools is to protect the elderly and/or vulnerable.
Would there be a push to shut schools indefinitely without the media pushing false information about the risk to children? Has the BBC caused panic that may lead to children being denied education based on false evidence? Would parents sacrifice their children by isolating them rather than push to allow their children to attend school and protect the vulnerable if trusted media outlets reported what we know honestly?