A lot of us here use the media as a primary resource in following H5N1 developments. Additionally, many here also indicate that media reports will be used as a primary signal to enact SIP, last minute prep plans, pulling children out of school etc. However, I came across an article today that has made me uneasy about our reliance on the media. Currently, there is a bit of a scandal regarding truth in reporting on the Israeli-Lebanon conflict (read story at http://tinyurl.com/jm6lp ). A Reuters photographer has been accused of photoshopping pictures to get certain effects and there have even been accusations of “staging” of certain photos for political effect. What does this have to do with avian influenza? I think most of us have come to understand that although a flu pandemic is certainly a public health issue it also is a highly political issue. I use the Reuter’s scandal as only an example of how the media – or even a single person which seems to be what has happened at Reuters - can manipulate our perceptions of situations. How much of the H5N1 coverage is manipulation? I think the reports recently of the Indonesia government developing a “special” vaccine for its citizens may fall into this category. The media can be a good source of information however I am concerned about the accuracy, timeliness, and bias of H5N1 coverage. Any thoughts on how to cultivate other sources of information?
Reuters story: http://tinyurl.com/lneq9
You have to read “between the lines” of all of the contributors to this site. And as the time gets nearer (to efficient h2h) you need to dissect every statement and its source, poster and link. The last few days I have detected several things, but I have not brought them up because we need to keep playing this game. More players will come on board, and the subliminal messaging will get stronger.
Everybody just needs to stay tuned here and to absorb it all.
Medical Maven – at 15:55
“The last few days I have detected several things”
Now you have us waiting anxiously :-)
What the h**k am I missing?
Hmmmm…after re-reading my initial post, it sounds a tad conspiratorial? It was not meant to be. I don’t necessarily think there is a grand conspiracy regarding H5N1 but I am concerned that we simply are not getting accurate information and partial information at best. I do think that certain governments will “spin” the information to mitigate damage to their economies etc. I think we have already seen some of that going on.
Medical Maven I think is referring to the parsing of words. Omitting a verb or adverb will change content and the CDC is quiet. What we don’t hear alot about in the media is that the immunocompressed people shed the virus longer than children. This is on the Who nonpharmaceutical intervention that DEM from Conn posted on the threat thread. It is probably the driving force behind the the increasing CFR-Thailand has a high HIV population. Children are super shedders for up to six days, normal folks 1–3 days but the immunosuppressed or immunocompromised is uncertain maybe weeks. This creates a different sort of triage issues that haven’t been addressed. This is a truth that effects millions and these are the folks a vaccine may not help. Has anyone seen any list about co-medical problems in the patients?
Medical Maven – at 15:55, any chance you could further articulate your thoughts? Are you suggesting that message manipulation is starting to happen on the wiki? Just curious…
Yep. And more will come.
Interesting perspective. Thanks.
I think it also depends on what media sources you are relying on. If you are depenmdent on mainstream US news (networks, CNN, major newspapers), by then it will be too late. I’m so grateful for the excellent work Heather and others do on the news thread everyday. The more sources the better and from all over the world. I don’t think there is necessarily a “cover-up” per se among reporters, but there is a lot of misunderstanding, mis-information and burn-out among reporters covering the topic. And since there doesn’t seem to be much of an audience for this type of news (as evidenced by the lack of preppers out there) then they’ll cover the stories that do sell. If the public started demanding more information editors/tv producers would be all over it like white-on-rice.
LauraB – at 17:08, read this article. Article is from 2004 but it hits on a number of problems and gives some good examples of current media issues, particularly issues in developing countries. Note that I’ve posted a number of links in the past week or so to The Nation in Thailand.
“…Soon after, an editor at iTV was transferred after it broadcast a programme critical of Mr Thaksin’s efforts to control the bird flu outbreak.
And the editor of Siamrath Weekly News resigned last week after government pressure resulted in the recall of 30,000 copies of an edition of the weekly that criticised the government’s handling of the bird flu crisis.
At The Nation newspaper, editors and journalists are waiting to assess the impact of last year’s purchase of more than 20 per cent of the stock of the Nation Group by family members of Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. He is also Thai Rak Thai party secretary-general…”
Whether this has changed in the last two years, I am not certain…
Has anyone found another source/site that they feel they get a lot of up to the moment reliable info from in addition to FluWiki?
What I am specifically asking I guess is, if there are other places to watch for “signals” that this has gone to efficient H2H, anywhere else that you all are watching besides FluWiki? (which I have completely come to depend upon daily, thank you very much)
Leg- you can check here http://tinyurl.com/k25oa
Thanks Dreamweaver -
Because I am time starved - and I think they do a great job - I do rely heavily on the news section here. Participants on that thread scour wources all over the world. If I have time I check other places like BBC, Reuters. US Papers are pretty lacking in their covereage. But usually news shows up here first thanks to everyones hard work.
I also rely on the news thread here, but now I will only read news and comments from those of you here that I have grown to trust. Thanks everyone!
Medical Maven at 16:19: Please elaborate:
Why do posters on the wickie have to hide behind subliminals? The biggest theory with punch was Monotreme’s triage by city not person theory. And, I think he hit on something we were all to afraid to mention out loud. I should add here that it never even popped into my head I’ve been so focused on hospitals, it made me feel nauseated as the truth sank into my brain. Pfwag’s question about why store water was also enlightening. I appreciate your posts as do others, so what have you to add? Let’s kick the tires and light some fires!
Leo7: Some of the contributors on this site have to protect their sources. And I expect as things heat up it will make less of a difference to the contributors and to the sources what is said. But even with those limitations, I believe that still leaves those who monitor fluwiki ahead of the curve on developing events. And there is the offchance that things will develop so fast that everybody will get blindsided, including inside sources that some of the contributors on this site are in contact with. Enough said.
multiple sources is a concept to go by. Something that can be confirmed (not just repeated) is more reliable than a single source.
LEG – at 20:36 try here
Here’s a little reality check:
News editors are sick of this story. They promoted it heavily last spring and it didn’t happen so they’ve lost credibility with their bosses. This is how news rooms work.
Don’t expect the media to follow this. As with so much else, “we’re on our own.”
Medical Maven thank you for your insight.
I wasn’t sure if this should be posted here, in ‘news’, or on its own thread but…
Wide Angle “H5N1 Killer Flu” on PBS television will be shown on Tues Aug 15th at 9:30pm (at least in Maine…). It’s a repeat(?) but may have some updates. It can be viewed online at its website- Wide Angle
link repaired - pogge
sorry, the t-url didn’t take so I tried the other way---on well….
‘thanks’ pogge.
Btw the Fluwiki site and the Recombinomics,Inc. site are mentioned on the ‘resources’ page off the ‘Wide Angle’ site.
Closed to maintain Forum speed.