One of the recurring themes with Ebola coverage is an incredible condescension from the media as to the risk of Ebola to regular folks. Vox’s Sarah Kilff, for example, posted this after New York City confirmed its first case of Ebola last night:
https://twitter.com/sarahkliff/status/525467421193539585
https://twitter.com/sarahkliff/status/525465056537243649
Yes, we’re told that there’s a good chance we won’t get Ebola, but that’s not what we see on television from health professionals. We see the the NYC Health Department closing down the bowling alley that Dr. Spencer visited. We see EMT’s carrying Dr. Spencer out of his apartment dressed in full hazmat gear. What we see doesn’t match up with what they are saying, and they are blaming us for reacting.
National Journal’s Ron Fournier is one of the few who does gets it. This is what he tweeted this morning:
Media pro tip: when you smugly mislabel label people's concerns as
"panic," you're exploiting #Ebola and insulting a potential audience 1/2— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) October 24, 2014
2/2 Condescension is a poor way to educate people about the limits of #Ebola. Explain, don't mock. Don't sneer and dismiss.
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) October 24, 2014
That’s 100% right. Now, if only the MSM would listen. This brings us to local NY1’s Errol Louis who offered this inane advice on how not to get Ebola:
https://twitter.com/joshuatopolsky/status/525474548636848128
Really? You’re telling people not to do this?
@errollouis So all the thousands of people in Liberia who died from Ebola were picking up feces and mucous off the ground and eating it?
— J.D. Elliott (@jde4zion) October 24, 2014
Tweeters were quick to make jokes about it, of course:
Great tip! "@joshuatopolsky: Anchor on NY1 definitely just said "don't eat" feces you find out and about"
— Michael Wimpee (@wimpeemc) October 24, 2014
#Ebola prevention advice of the day. @joshuatopolsky “Anchor on NY1 definitely just said “don’t eat” feces you find out and about”
— Brian Bailey (@StarlingCurve) October 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/incandenza/status/525528254116286464
If you do that you deserve Ebola RT @joshuatopolsky: Anchor on NY1 definitely just said "don't eat" feces you find out and about
— mike styczen ?? (@mstyczen) October 24, 2014
You can watch the whole video here and do note Louis’s sneering tone. No wonder people hate the media.
Related:
Ron Fournier: For the record, nobody is panicking about Ebola
‘Start spreading the news’: America reacts to Ebola in NYC
ABC News’ chief medical editor declares New York City doctor with Ebola a ‘hero’
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‘Can’t make this up!’ Guess where Ebola-positive NYC doctor may have gone bowling; Alley closed?
NYC doctor who went to a bowling alley last night has tested positive for Ebola
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