Media running rampant with its #swineflu coverage without conclusive facts
I have seen a lot of the Swineflu coverage out there and am becoming increasingly nervous. Not for the potential of a pandemic, but for the media's contribution to premature panic. I do not want to diminish the deaths of 100-plus Mexicans -- as I think that certainly makes the potential of this latest outbreak worth considering.
However, the fear-inducing level of headlines and the dramatic images, like the one above, do not really mesh with what we currently know. Namely, that is because we know far too little about Swineflu. Still, the media is in a furor and is running rampant with few conclusive facts.
Yes, they suspect more than 100 people in Mexico have died from Swineflu. However, we also know that the 20 confirmed cases in the U.S. have been mild. The number of confirmed cases is only at 73 and tests on this latest strand are only just beginning.
This seems like one of those moments where the media will once again undercut its credibility. At what point does this become another Avian Flu or SARS? And, if the fear does prove to be unjustified, what happens the next time -- when people's safety really may be at stake? Again, I do think there is reason to be concerned, but there is so little knowledge out there, that the level of hysteria seems exceptionally premature.
The media certainly needs to increase general awareness and do what it can to help people protect themselves. But this coverage seems more about one thing -- boosting ratings for news outlets talking about "swineflu" (and admittedly, people are fascinated by this story, just look at the number of swineflu tweets, mine included).
We need to exercise caution and the media needs to consider the effects of what it disseminates. Not to fall back on old cliches, but this feels a lot like the boy who cried wolf. The next time people may be slower to buy into the hype: and that could put us all at risk.
Remember, the evidence says we don't need to panic just yet, even though the images and nonstop coverage seem to tell an entirely different story.
