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The media is irresponsibly sensationalizing the Coronavirus by leapfrogging over the facts into the saga. Mass media corporations are instigating fear, and politicizing the fallout.
The opportunity to diminish the president’s accomplishments, instigate fear amongst the populace, and play the “wizened” arbitrator of information landed on the desks of every media company in the world. Unable to relay only the facts, the media hype has created small ripples of fear amongst citizens across the globe. Something that the media types are only too happy to report.
What inspired this recent rush on toilet paper? A demand so intense that it’s worth assaulting another person?
According to University of California, Irvine associate professor E. Alison Holman, the toilet paper push likely originated from articles about stocking up before the virus’s spread. From her interview in “The Washington Times“,
A week ago, there were a handful of articles in major newspapers saying, here’s what you should do to prepare for the coronavirus. And one of the top things that was listed on at least two or three websites — major media outlets — was: Buy toilet paper,” Ms. Holman said. “I think some of the freak-out about getting toilet paper has to do with that.”
Major media outlets advise the public to buy toilet paper, and the next thing we see is them reporting the bare shelves and bare knuckle brawls over booty paper. Create the problem (Buy TP!), sensationalize the problem (Bare Shelves!), then place blame for the problem (privileged hoarders stockpile TP). They could end this with one report, like the one from “The Raw Story“,
The U.S. has been mass producing toilet paper since the late 1800s. And while other industries like shoe manufacturing have fled the country, toilet paper manufacturing has not. Today there are almost 150 U.S. companies making this product.”
We manufacture toilet paper in the USA. If we get to the point where the presses stop rolling, the lack of toilet paper will be the least of our worries.
Same virus, very different methods for disseminating information. The video from the CDC is informative, offering fact based straight talk about the media and Coronavirus.
Contrast the CDC video with the CNN video, and it’s like the stories are completely unrelated. CNN takes sensationalism to a new high. Taking highly edited congressional testimony and interweaving it to fit the political agenda driven storyline about Coronavirus. Trump is responsible for everything, he’s ineffective running a bureaucracy, and thing will get worse. Oh, did you hear… things will get worse. Everything is bad. So very bad! Have you heard it’s going to get worse?
This video represents everything sensationalized for mass anxiety. There are opinions from people who are so expert in this field that they aren’t needed in a lab to help find a cure. No! They have time to go on TV and add “credibility” to the media drama.
Nothing screams “responsible journalism” like sensationalizing the headlines! Here are a few from a recent “New York Times” article,
Here’s what you need to know:
- President Trump says restricting travel from Europe is necessary.
- This is a global pandemic, the W.H.O. says.
- Tom Hanks says he and his wife have the coronavirus.
- The N.B.A. suspends its season after a player tests positive for the coronavirus.
- Trump’s European travel ban shakes global stock markets.”
Do I really need to know that an actor and his wife are positive? Have I recently crossed paths with Tom Hanks? Do we frequent the same locations…(hahaha)? No.
Does the suspended NBA season directly impact my health and contraction risk? No.
W.H.O. says, “this is a global pandemic”! This information, and the travel restrictions may directly impact me, and are important news. I’d rather pretend the stock market is fine. But in all honesty, I’m still better off than I was before the Trump Bump. The other stuff is interesting to some, but ultimately superfluous in the big picture. But it heightens the tensions and imparts drama. It’s information, but not pertinent to most people.
The mass media tells you to stock up on supplies (aka Hoard), and the cultural woke folk want you to know it’s your privilege that allows you stock up. Seriously. Kathryn Dillon writes in “Medium.Com“
Twenty years ago, I wouldn’t have had that luxury — and yes, “stocking up” is a luxury. It means that you have enough money left after paying for essentials that you can still make purchases in anticipation of future needs.”
Or, I tapped into the emergency fund. How did I get an emergency fund…. our family lived under our income and stashed away small amounts that over time have grown. Sacrificing today, so we can live tomorrow. It’s hard, but doable.
Only the truly virtuous can find sanctimony in a Pandemic.
As for the rest of us, find facts. Find compassion. Find a sense of humor. Because I guarantee you that we will need all three to survive the media onslaught of sensationalized “news.”
Thank You Sarah Hoyt, and Welcome to our Instapundit readers!
Featured Image: Army.Mil License: Public Domain Image Cropped: 400×400, Text overlay
Wfjag says: If it bleeds, it leads.
Dog bites man.
Orange Man Bad.
Any questions?
This is more of a :reporter brings rabid dog to playground. Reports dangerous animal attacking kids : Parents are irresponsible for their kids playing at park, and did they enjoy their privilege of playing at the park. The orange man bad.
The Other Keith says: And in the end, when this all blows over and turns out to be no big deal. . . I am looking forward to a bumper crop of schadenfreude in November. . .
Grand Moff Tarkin says: [in a bored tone of voice] We’re all going to die. Ahhhhhhhh.
GWB says: “You die. She dies. Everybody dies.”
[also in a bored tone of voice]
GWB says: And while other industries like shoe manufacturing have fled the country, toilet paper manufacturing has not.
Though, the source material (wood pulp) we get from the vast forests of our neighbor to the north. If we have to shut the border with Canada over this virus, we’re gonna be in deep doo-doo.
There are opinions from people who are so expert in this field that they aren’t needed in a lab to help find a cure.
Meh. This is true of every organization in the world, I’m sure. There are always people whose job is to go other people whose job is to gather the information. And both groups are promoted above the level of actually-knows-what’s-going-on. (Usually on purpose.)
Do I really need to know that an actor and his wife are positive?
Of course you do. You’re a pathetic deplorable in flyover country who lives a decent life vicariously by watching everything a celebrity does, listening to everything they say, and wondering about every little thing in their lives – because theirs are just SO much better than yours.
Does the suspended NBA season directly impact my health and contraction risk?
I’ll be at risk of contraction if they shut down all the restaurants…….
But it … imparts drama.
YES! And drama SELLS.
Or, I tapped into the emergency fund.
Or, she’s right on that one. Sorta. It IS our privilege that we can afford to buy into the future. But it’s honestly a privilege that even most of the truly poor among us can exercise. Because, honestly, we’re rich – the entire nation, each of us – compared to the truly hand-to-mouth living of past generations.
Jim says: I do know that Hanks and spouse are positively safe in hospital in Australia. It was an important item on the news last evening. We in Australia are blessed with their presence.
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