Was the media hoax, the media hoax?

RandomName2

Back in January, when it was clear we had a second SARS like disease on our hands, we kept hearing about how the media was blowing the threat out of proportion. We heard about hysteria, and scaremongering.

But was this accurate?

• coronavirus-hype-crisis-predictions-sars-swine-flu-panics
• dr_drew_pinsky_threat_of_coronavirus_an_overblown_press-created_hysteria
• dont-buy-the-media-hype-over-the-new-china-virus/
• hysteria-over-coronavirus-in-italy-is-reminiscent-of-the-black-death/
• dont-get-overwhelmed-by-coronavirus-hype-dr-lance-osullivan

Do you think the media had a hand in Europe's initial slow reaction? We heard far more articles about the threat of racism due to covid-19 than the threat of pandemic imo.

Muahahaha

I think what happened is that the media have hyped up previous diseases like bird flu that never really affected people here. Many saw it as them sentionaising the topic in order to sell newspapers so when this virus came a long it took a while for a cynical public to take it seriously.

RandomName2

Muahahaha wrote: »

I think what happened is that the media have hyped up previous diseases like bird flu that never really affected people here.

Hyped up? But SARS was actually potentially far more dangerous than COVID-19. Surely people can see that?

redman

I think there is hype hype and they way things are written and portrayed, versus sensible written logical, informed (non ego opinion pieces) that would have been more helpful...
The what ifs, scenarios, matter of fact without the jabbering about the peripheral aspects