The media has completely dropped Covid, don't they need to explain why?

appaulingnews

War in Ukraine and inflation are now all over the news. Headlines about ventilation in schools, vaccinating children and rollout of booster shot #4 are no longer newsworthy. Has the media explained how a war in Ukraine has solved a critical public safety issue in Ireland? Has this even been discussed anywhere?

appaulingnews

Mod: Can this be moved back to Current Affairs?

This topic is about how the media moves from one horror story to the next without any accountability. I can't be the only one who noticed.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058246300/the-media-has-completely-dropped-covid-dont-they-need-to-explain-why

Why would they need to explain?

The biggest news story on the day makes the headlines.

Covid has receded as a public health problem (not gone away, but not as big an issue as previously, for the moment anyway). The war in Ukraine has become a bigger story in news terms.

It hasn't "solved a critical public safety issue" - what a bizarre way to phrase it.

If Covid numbers/infectiousness start rising again to the point where it's a serious public health issue, I'm sure it'll be back up the top at the top of the newsfeed.

A more pertinent question might be why the media thinks the WAG circus currently playing in the High Court in England is in any way newsworthy 🙄

Allinall

Media print what people want to read, or hear. They appeal to the masses.

People are tired of hearing about Covid, as it's no longer relevant to most.

Inflation and the war in Ukraine are the hot topics that everyone is affected by, and are talking about. The media reflect this.

GalwayMan74

Todays news lines tomorrows birdcages

appaulingnews

Comments here make it sound like even noticing the news reporting inconsistencies is too much trouble. This grants the media the role of an abusive spouse, we accept it as "we know what they're like". Newsflash - you really should be able to understand how how your tax money is being spent. Not expecting to be allowed to understand this is top-grade victim mentality. You should expect better for yourselves.

btw: You have the right to ignore stories that don't impact the life prospects of your children.

HeidiHeidi

How is the media spending our tax money???

I think you need the Conspiracy Theories forum, tbh......

accensi0n

So what were the media companies responses when you reached out to them to inquire?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081023#Comment_119081023

Atlantic Dawn

The lack of healthy people dying from it or famous people catching it leaves it off the headlines. Monkeypox is a lot more interesting at the moment and will have conspiracy theories flying soon when the dots are connected.

seamus

It's fairly self-explanatory. The word "news", as in "things are that new".

If there is no new information, there is no "news".

Bit paradoxical to require that the media talk about a topic in order to explain why they're no longer talking about it. If they're not talking about it, it means that there is nothing new to report.

victor8600

You can ask the same about Boards.ie. Why do "they" (posters) discuss Ukraine more than Covid? Is it some kind of conspiracy? No, Covid is no longer worthy of much attention -- sure, it is still here, but the restrictions are lifted, the vaccines work (mostly), etc.

appaulingnews

Lads, you're all contorting yourselves trying to justify why you don't need to know! Suppose headlines for Mon/Tue are "Stay in"/"Go out". Then the new "news" for Tuesday is (1) you can go out (2) an explanation on why you no longer need to stay in. Only very junior cadets need to accept directions unquestioningly.  

Subzero3

"The biggest news story on the day makes the headlines" hiedihiedi

The problem is they decide what the biggest news story is, not joe public. The government or private businesses with links to the government are running the media.

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081552#Comment_119081552

What is it you want them to report? The low rates of hospitalisation or the falling numbers of cases? These things are not news people will read. COVID has been downgraded to flu' status and we barely talk about that even in the middle of winter. If there is any need to alert the public we will hear about it.

appaulingnews

"If there is any need to alert the public we will hear about it." @is_that_so No double meanings intended, I am genuinely envious of your life that you have such a strong faith in authority.

SortingYouOut

Explain why? that is how the media works. They serve on a plate what you're mad to eat up. It's the same reason why there's far less in the news about Ukraine. They'll report on what we pay attention to, that's the way it has always been.

Donald Trump

Never mind that OP. The media seem to have strangely stopped going on about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand,

I think George Soros is behind it all

walshb

We’ve had two years Covid dominance…bound to dissipate!

Pauliedragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058246300/the-media-has-completely-dropped-covid-dont-they-need-to-explain-why

OP there is advertising all over the place regarding the 2nd booster. Over 65's and anybody else who has a compromised immune system can book anytime they want. From the people I know in those categories most couldn't be bothered. Regarding schools covid isn't as prominent in most schools anymore so no need for ventilation or other measures. If you want daily numbers you can find them if you search hard enough. We had a tough couple of years both physically and mentally people are getting over it now so why not embrace the fact we are finally back to normal. I had it a month ago it was a bad cold at worst. I had the flu about 2 months before that and it was 10 times worse. Time to move on my friend. The stress will just kill you. Live your life as if the fucker never existed and let's deal with what's in front of us right now which has the potential to be far worse for our society than any virus.

bennyineire

The Vaccine's worked, the end. Life goes on.

What more do you want?

appaulingnews

To be clear, I'm delighted the media stopped the fear-mongering and propaganda. My surprise was how abruptly we moved on from this year's Covid scare stories. We have 95% of the population fully vaccinated whom presumably were following their given Covid instructions step-by-step. These Covid instructions abruptly stopped when the Ukraine war started. Are we all here really so sophisticated in postmodern media theory that we just knowingly nod as "the media cycle" progresses and nonchalantly contradicts itself... Well colour me impressed.

Ficheall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083411#Comment_119083411

Doesn't sound like you're delighted. Sounds like you want something to whinge about.

trashcan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083411#Comment_119083411

So since you’re being clear, you’re delighted the media stopped the “fear mongering and propaganda” yet you seem upset that they are not talking about COVID anymore. Could you clarify which it is ? Do you think there is something going on that we need to know about and that the media isn’t reporting ?

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083021#Comment_119083021

Well, if by this you're hinting there is a cover up of some sort going on with COVID you're in the wrong forum. I personally have little interest in a pathogen which now causes so few problems to so few of us. The data is there if you want to review it but the public emergency is long over ergo no longer news worth reporting.

corny

OP you'll be equally astonished by the speed with which Covid talk will once again dominate the airwaves in the late Autumn. As soon as boosters need to be pushed RTE will let you know you're in danger.

Anyone who doesn't question the impartiality of major media is a fool btw. RTE, Fox, BBC, RT, Al Jazeera... they all have their own angle. They also shine a light on the stuff they want you to care about but they'll ignore other stuff that should be newsworthy. Bad news sells but only certain bad news is fit for consumption.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083411#Comment_119083411

Parts of the media have always engaged in sensationalism to sell news. You've always had to filter what is exaggerated to get to some form of normal from it. They always switch focus rapidly.

So you've been naive if you used to think otherwise.

But you're engaged in some self delusion if you think they they reported COVID any differently to anything else.

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119100524#Comment_119100524

Already started yesterday with fears of a surge in September due to waning vaccines and new variants.

This isn’t finished yet.

Flinty997

If people can't handle the news without becoming obsessed they need to stop looking at it, or only look at it once a week.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172555#Comment_119172555

Yup, Pat K was back hand-wringing about mask wearing again yesterday.

The difference this time though is that we have a lot more to worry about than what has always been little more than a dose of the sniffles for the vast majority of people.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172603#Comment_119172603

In all right jack, screw the minority of people.

I'm printing the T-shirts as we speak. Along with "its not my war" and "I'll never need Car Insurance"

Dempo1

A few articles in the Indo over the past few days and today , RTE barely a mention albeit their news room preparing for the annual summer exodus. VMN focusing on Ukraine entirely but will soon focus on the excitement of Garth Brooks arrival , this said Zara King has moved back into the Department of Health part time , not for covid coverage as such but Monkey Pox and other kinda health related stories including a report on long covid symptoms yesterday.

I've mostly turned off alledged current affairs radio programmes lately, they are either utterly depressing, little to do with Irish current affairs or segments on the latest hair, fashion or baking trends 🙄

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172627#Comment_119172627

The Vulnerables have had their time in the limelight, time to stand aside now and let the rest of keep carrying on with life. If they don't know how to protect themselves from the rest of us after two years then it's on them.

We are (possibly) in for an autumn & winter of discontent.... high prices for everything, food & fuel shortages, trying to decide between food or heat.

When all that kicks off I think the media will be distracted again and ignore whatever mild variant covid decides to mutate into, people will prioritise what is and isn't important, and I think covid will be well down the pecking order of what to panic about.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119080355#Comment_119080355

People were most likely tired of hearing about covid twelve months ago but the media kept the narrative going

Flinty997

The reason is is not a priority now is because the current variants are less harmful and many people are vaccinated against the most harmful variants.

The media reporting reflects this reality. Not the other way around. That reality was changed by the reporting.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172677#Comment_119172677

Maybe people are tired hearing about poor people. Maybe if they stop reporting that everyone will become rich.

Confirmation bias

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172627#Comment_119172627

You'll have to do better than "won't someone PLEASE think of the children!"

The minority in question have long been protecting themselves from potential threats long before Covid came along and will continue to do so.

The only ones served by continued fear-mongering and hysteria are the habitually nervous and those who need "someone else" to tell them what to do. It's actually a disservice as it only serves to ramp up these feelings and results in other issues as we've seen over the last 2 years - mental health concerns, divided families and communities etc etc.

Covid regulations were never to deal with people's anxieties.

You guys talking as if mainstream media is made up of legit independent operators, that coincidentally just so happen to report (or suddenly stop reporting) on issues in unison 🤣

Big pharma and mainstream media, for example, are largely owned by two management asset firms: Vanguard and BlackRock. Vanguard is the largest shareholder in Blackrock, so consider them one and the same.

They are the top two owners of Time Warner, Compact, Disney and News Corp, four of the six media companies that control more than 90% of the US media landscape. They also are the top two shareholders in Pfizer. You see what they want you to see. They control what you're focused on and when, because they own the media. Now, "look over there... Ukraine" 😄

https://www.wallstreetzen.com/stocks/us/nyse/pfe/ownership

Flinty997

If you are increasing your anxiety and paranoia by obsessive media consumption you should limit your consumption of it. Also if you are unable to filter media hyperbole from reality perhaps stay away from it entirely.

Denying something exists won't make it go away.

Dyr

Any word in on the excess deaths over the last two years?

In particular the excess deaths with Covid as the sole cause?

I saw Eddie Hobbes claiming it was under a hundred

ELM327

It's moved from pandemic to endemic. Thanks to the vaccines and the earlier restrictions we reached a point in the mutations where it became less lethal. Therefore it's not noteworthy. This time two years ago I wouldnt have left the house bar for essentials.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172855#Comment_119172855

Eddie Hobbies. You realize he's saying what it takes to get publicity. Why don't you just jump to COVID doesn't exist and be done with it.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/eddie-hobbs-a-salesman-who-s-best-at-selling-himself-1.2053464

Perhaps this forum is run by AI and bots. In reality it only has 3 users.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172879#Comment_119172879

Would you of known there was a pandemic if it wasn't for the media, or people wearing masks?

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172903#Comment_119172903

I would "of" known if people werent wearing masks as at the start the death tolls would have been higher, like in Italy.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172926#Comment_119172926

Ah OK, so that's what saved us; those cheap masks everyone was wearing 🤣

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WpJq_584_UA&feature=emb_title

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172903#Comment_119172903

Cancelled hospital appointments, limited access in nursing homes. People being off sick a lot at work.

How do you know there's a dose going around normally in schools or in the office.

I was more referring to the absence of bodies in the street (like the early videos we saw from China 🤣)

But yeah, I know; all sorts of cancer screenings, surgeries etc cancelled because of a "dose going around". I agree with you there.

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172889#Comment_119172889

So he's lying is what you're saying?

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173128#Comment_119173128

Are you saying COVID Deaths are under a hundred and its all imaginary?

RTE have been surprisingly calm for now, the IT too. Eilish O’Regan continues to copy and paste her ‘I’m afraid of Covid, why aren’t other people’ almost ever say in the Indo, but even they’re not giving it much traction - not tweeting it out at peak times, not having it headline news etc.

Pat Kenny will always be Pat Kenny, what’s important for Pat and only Pat is his main concern.

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173196#Comment_119173196

I don't think it's all imaginary, I don't know what the excess deaths in the last two years are from covid alone, I'd imagine they're significant otherwise you'd have to wonder what the **** it was all about. Eddie Hobbes is claiming they're miniscule, if anyone wants to correct that, then go ahead, rather than attack the source.

https://twitter.com/RealEddieHobbs/status/1534041680969703426

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173303#Comment_119173303

Maye you'd explain when dying solely from COVID became the only issue of importance and only data point of relevance.