BBC In Spotlight Again Covid Exaggeration

[life on mars]

BBC ‘misrepresented’ Covid risk to boost lockdown support, inquiry told
Eminent epidemiologist Prof Mark Woolhouse criticised corporation for reporting rare deaths among healthy adults as the norm during pandemic

Simon Johnson,
SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR
25 January 2024 • 11:47am
A man wears a mask in front of BBC Broadcasting House in London
The BBC was allowed to “misrepresent” the risk posed by Covid to most people to boost public support for lockdown, the UK Covid Inquiry has heard.

Prof Mark Woolhouse, an eminent epidemiologist and government adviser, lambasted the corporation for having “repeatedly reported rare deaths or illnesses among healthy adults as if they were the norm”.

He said this created the “misleading impression” among BBC News viewers at the start of the pandemic that “we are all at risk” and “the virus does not discriminate”.

In reality, he said it was known at the time that the risk of dying from Covid was 10,000 times higher in the over-75s than the under-15s.

But Prof Woolhouse told the inquiry the BBC did not correct its reporting, saying: “I suspect this misinformation was allowed to stand throughout 2020 because it provided a justification for locking down the entire population..

[Rjk]

where have you copied and pasted that from?

[the other bob wilson]

where have you copied and pasted that from?

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Simon Johnson is the Scottish political editor of the Daily Telegraph.

[JamesWales]

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Simon Johnson is the Scottish political editor of the Daily Telegraph.

Does that discredit what he's saying? Lockdown caused some very serious issues for many people Bob. Surely it's wise to be open minded about whether mistakes were made, no?

[the other bob wilson]

Does that discredit what he's saying? Lockdown caused some very serious issues for many people Bob. Surely it's wise to be open minded about whether mistakes were made, no?

You haven’t half read an awful, awful lot into one sentence there.

[Rjk]

Does that discredit what he's saying? Lockdown caused some very serious issues for many people Bob. Surely it's wise to be open minded about whether mistakes were made, no?

Identifying the source of an article is an important part of appraising what is being said.
Especially on a topic like covid and or the BBC, much of the media in this country don't exactly play with a straight bat when it comes to the latter.

[JamesWales]

You haven’t half read an awful, awful lot into one sentence there.

I dunno, it sounded like saying the newspaper he works for was a means to discredit it! Apologies if wrong!

[the other bob wilson]

I dunno, it sounded like saying the newspaper he works for was a means to discredit it! Apologies if wrong!

It’s an anti BBC story presenting a particular view of the pandemic - put that with who started this thread and the fact it was from the Telegraph was hardly a shock.

[jeepster]

It’s an anti BBC story presenting a particular view of the pandemic - put that with who started this thread and the fact it was from the Telegraph was hardly a shock.

No surprise there.

[tomcat]

Absolutely, usual biased crap from the Torygraph

[cityhammer]

Absolutely, usual biased crap from the Torygraph

Are you saying that the gist of the report is untrue?

[TWGL1]

It’s an anti BBC story presenting a particular view of the pandemic - put that with who started this thread and the fact it was from the Telegraph was hardly a shock.

The Telegraph story are just calling out the BBC for misinformation, funny how you are fine your “ go to news source” doing that

[Wales-Bales]

The Telegraph story are just calling out the BBC for misinformation, funny how you are fine your “ go to news source” doing that

Mind-boggling logic, and that's why this country is totally fcuked, and it's only going to get worse!

[the other bob wilson]

The Telegraph story are just calling out the BBC for misinformation, funny how you are fine your “ go to news source” doing that

You and the usual suspects are jumping to conclusions there, I have the sort of opinion of the Telegraph that the independent thinkers on here do of the Guardian, but I’ve made no comment either way on the validity of the story - I’ve just said it’s the sort of story the Telegraph would print.

[TWGL1]

You and the usual suspects are jumping to conclusions there, I have the sort of opinion of the Telegraph that the independent thinkers on here do of the Guardian, but I’ve made no comment either way on the validity of the story - I’ve just said it’s the sort of story the Telegraph would print.

Your claim against the Telegraph is irrelevant when you consider the health secretary at the time was quoted is saying he wanted “ to scare the pants off people” , which is what the Telegraph are saying in this article about the BBC.

It’s as though you can’t accept that the “critical thinking crew” on here have been correct about most aspects and you take it personally.

It’s seems like you’re becoming accountable for the things you ( and others ) took great delight in during the pandemic calling out critical thinking voices in a derogatory way. ( have a quick scan of the coronavirus thread on here )

At least critical thinking people stuck to their own beliefs and principles despite the vitriol and bullying.

[pipster]

It’s an anti BBC story presenting a particular view of the pandemic - put that with who started this thread and the fact it was from the Telegraph was hardly a shock.

Anything from a Leftie news source is good, if not - then it's bad - does that sum it up ?.
Why not concentrate on what the Prof Woolhouse had to say - or doesn't that matter?

[Wales-Bales]

Anything from a Leftie news source is good, if not - then it's bad - does that sum it up ?.
Why not concentrate on what the Prof Woolhouse had to say - or doesn't that matter?

If he'd lived in the Soviet Union during it's heyday, he would be telling everybody how great Pravda was

[the other bob wilson]

Anything from a Leftie news source is good, if not - then it's bad - does that sum it up ?.
Why not concentrate on what the Prof Woolhouse had to say - or doesn't that matter?

Well done, you’re four days late, but you got here in the end. To repeat what I said last week in this thread, the only comment I’ve made is to say that it was hardly a surprise that it was the Telegraph that ran a story like that, it’s what I would expect from them - it’s what they do, just like the Guardian would probably come at the same story from a different angle. I’ve not made any comment for or against on what the professor said and I don’t intend to.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Well done, you’re four days late, but you got here in the end. To repeat what I said last week in this thread, the only comment I’ve made is to say that it was hardly a surprise that it was the Telegraph that ran a story like that, it’s what I would expect from them - it’s what they do, just like the Guardian would probably come at the same story from a different angle. I’ve not made any comment for or against on what the professor said and I don’t intend to.

I think it’s funny that there’s constant denial about story slant. An old mate of mine wrote for any paper that would pay him. He’d change and pitch the story differently depending on the paper. Proper old school journalism. Drove a Porsche…when he wasn’t banned.

[goats]

BBC ‘misrepresented’ Covid risk to boost lockdown support, inquiry told
Eminent epidemiologist Prof Mark Woolhouse criticised corporation for reporting rare deaths among healthy adults as the norm during pandemic

Simon Johnson,
SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR
25 January 2024 • 11:47am
A man wears a mask in front of BBC Broadcasting House in London
The BBC was allowed to “misrepresent” the risk posed by Covid to most people to boost public support for lockdown, the UK Covid Inquiry has heard.

Prof Mark Woolhouse, an eminent epidemiologist and government adviser, lambasted the corporation for having “repeatedly reported rare deaths or illnesses among healthy adults as if they were the norm”.

He said this created the “misleading impression” among BBC News viewers at the start of the pandemic that “we are all at risk” and “the virus does not discriminate”.

In reality, he said it was known at the time that the risk of dying from Covid was 10,000 times higher in the over-75s than the under-15s.

But Prof Woolhouse told the inquiry the BBC did not correct its reporting, saying: “I suspect this misinformation was allowed to stand throughout 2020 because it provided a justification for locking down the entire population..

Shock horror Gov lying

[blue matt]

Shock horror Gov lying

Come on mate

Shock horror Tories Lying

you know the CCMB rules

[Bald Barry Bastad]

Anyone with any common sense knew that was the case at the time.

[Wales-Bales]

Bit of a pointless thread really. The same people who believed everything about the covid crisis, even the things that were wrong, are going to believe everything about the climate crisis, even the things that turn out to be wrong. Rinse and repeat ad infinitum.

[JamesWales]

It’s an anti BBC story presenting a particular view of the pandemic - put that with who started this thread and the fact it was from the Telegraph was hardly a shock.

He's an epidemiologist from Bristol Uni isn't he?

The BBCs role in the country came to prominence in Covid, with the news, the daily briefings etc. I think it's fair to scrutinize them alongside the govt.

Personally I think they were poor in properly talking about the issues generally

[Heathblue]

Anyone with any common sense knew that was the case at the time.

But only a few were prepared to put their cock on a block and call it out for what it was, look at the abuse we got from the CCMB squad!!!! 🤣