Science Reporter Slams Fox’s Ebola Coverage: ‘Level of Ignorance We Shouldn’t Allow in Media’

[Mister Nightowl]

Source: Mediaite

by Evan McMurry | 12:10 pm, October 5th, 2014

Science journalist (and former CNN correspondent) Miles O’Brien excoriated Fox’s hyperbolic media coverage of ebola on CNN’s Reliable Sources Sunday, calling it irresponsible given the increasingly technological nature of the world, and pleaded for large media outlets to develop more science-specific reporting units.

“I wish everybody could take a deep breath and take a break from trying to pull viewers in by scaring them,” O’Brien said. “It borders on irresponsibility…But there is a perception that by hyping up this threat you draw people’s attention. It’s a shame to even say that, and I get embarrassed for our brethren in journalism.”

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/science-reporter-slams-foxs-ebola-coverage-level-of-ignorance-we-shouldnt-allow-in-media/

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But, but FOX without fear is like sex without coming!

[Veilex]

1. This is similar to yelling "FIRE!!!" in a crowded theater...

fortunately, Fox's misinformation hasn't cost any lives (at least on this topic).

[Fred Sanders]

2. Free speech must never be restricted no matter how false or vile or maliciously said or damaging to

the national welfare, even calls for genocide on a national cable network, are free speech protected, that seems to be the consensus in America, it should not be.

[Veilex]

6. Free speech is protected...

so long as it doesn't cost a life... the example I gave: Yelling "fire!!!" in a crowded theater is illegal as it could cost lives as people rush out of the theater. Propaganda was against the law until recently.
http://rt.com/usa/smith-mundt-domestic-propaganda-121/

[F4lconF16]

17. Do you have a link to this that isn't from RT? nt

[Veilex]

19. Indeed... here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/17/1224321/-U-S-Government-Repeals-Ban-Opens-Floodgate-to-Mass-Agitprop-Meant-for-Domestic-Consumption

[F4lconF16]

20. Excellent, thanks!

[Veilex]

21. You're welcome!

[Enthusiast]

11. The rest of the media should unite in their condemnation of Fox fear mongering.

Fox does this on issue after issue. It isn't necessary to restrict free speech but CNN, MSNBC and the rest should take this opportunity to castigate Fox for their ignorance and racism.

A new meme, "Unite against Fox "News" ignorance and fear mongering!"

[alarimer]

13. I think he is talking about DELIBERATE misinformation

When it comes to media, lies should not count as free speech.

[kestrel91316]

3. For the record, no, you're not going to give Ebola to your dog/cat nor catch it from them.

[Fred Sanders]

4. And Fox mocked Liberians who may go to a witch doctor, plenty of idiots in America also.

Fox knows its audience, give them that.

[kestrel91316]

5. That was so racist, but then I saw it was Faux and understood.

[branford]

7. O'Brien has his own credibility issues.

First, CNN, his employer, has been little to no better than Fox on covering Ebola. Simply, frightened people watch the news, and CNN needs additional viewers far more than Fox, credibility be damned.

Second, although O'Brien basically appears well-meaning and somewhat likable, after his 24/7, months-long, incessant MH370 missing plane CNN coverage, including innumerable discussions about many ludicrous theories to simply fill air-time, his journalistic authority and integrity has been demonstrably diminished.

[Enthusiast]

12. Compared to Fox, CNN is a paragon of journalistic integrity.

Misinformation is the very reason for Fox's existence.

[Marrah_G]

8. They are going to get someone killed

Some person with an African accent will cough and that will be that

[Thor_MN]

16. If one thought someone had ebola, the very last thing one would want to do

is cause the production of any fluids from their body. To make them bleed would be insanity. While I have no illusions on just how stupid people can be, I doubt anyone is going to be making flame throwers in case they happen to see someone with flu symptoms.

[freshwest]

9. As the doctor says, there is a racial aspect being promoted by Faux in regards to Ebola.

This could translate to the 'Stand Your Ground' fans as 'I saw a black guy and was afraid of my life from Ebola, so I shot him.'

That is how wacked out some are nowadays. I say this because it was the media-induced RWNJ xenophobia that lead to them going to the border to shoot people who they say are carrying diseases.

Not all the ignoratti stay safely at home behind their keyboards or watching Faux. Some of them want to work out their fantasies IRL.

With the epidemic of black people getting shot, this just gives batshit people another reason, the more they push the hysteria.

JMHO.

[calimary]

10. Welcome to DU, Mister Nightowl!

I love Miles O'Brien. And I HATE Pox Noise. They are TOTALLY and WITHOUT QUESTION reckless and irresponsible in their so-called "coverage". I'm a retired broadcast journalist. Pox Noise make me feel ashamed of my former profession.

[Mister Nightowl]

18. Thanks

And you're right; FOX isn't news, it's propaganda.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Doc slams CNN for not having a science beat and they put on Gupta...

Remember what Michael Moore said of him?

(Here comes the "fuck MM" crowd)

[Mister Nightowl]

23. Hey, Obama wanted him for Surgeon General, so how bad could he be?

Just sayin'

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. I guess it depends on how many Big Phama types sponsor both.

[ReRe]

15. I think...

... DOJ should do lunch with Ayles & Murdock. Like, tomorrow!

[whereisjustice]

22. Guess which highly contagious virus found in 5 recent deaths...

He went to bed fine, was dead by morning. I guess this isn't as panic inducing as something named "ebola" from Africa, especially among the millions of racists in the US.

Officials: Enterovirus D68 claims first child

As the CDC points out, “Enteroviruses commonly circulate in summer and fall. We’re currently in middle of the enterovirus season.”

Not including Eli’s cases, tests showed enterovirus D68 in four people who had died. The CDC, though, reported then that “the role that EV-D68 infection played in these deaths is unclear at this time.”

Mercer County’s medical examiner, Dr. Raafat Ahmad, was unequivocal about it’s part in Eli’s death.

“The child had some brain swelling, it had some lymph node swelling,” Plunkett said. “But Ahmad attributed that to the virus as the cause of death.”

Enterovirus is very common, with the CDC estimating 10 million to 15 million infections each year in the United States.

http://kfor.com/2014/10/05/officials-enterovirus-d68-claims-first-child/

[LiberalLovinLug]

25. Sie.......ends????

What is that? LOL!

[Lodestar]

26. The pharmaceutical companies OWN the GOP and FOX

And of course fear has always been the GOP's weapon of choice.