Tone Down The Virus Rhetoric

Al Tompkins covered the ZIKA in 2016. He shares the lessons he learned then in a article published for Poynter. Here's how newsrooms can tone down their Coronavirus coverage while still reporting responsibly.

Limit adjectives

Everywhere I turn I see news headlines blaring the words “deadly virus” even though for most people the virus is not deadly.

Choose images carefully

I recommend that every time you show somebody wearing a facemask, you remind the viewers/readers that experts say the masks do not help prevent the spread of the virus.

Frame stories with context

People want to know what they can do.

When fright affects big plans

It is worth pointing out that the World Health Organization has not issued any broad warnings that would lead to cancellations, not yet, anyway.

Bust myths

“During the SARS epidemic, hand-washing reduced the risk of transmission by 30 to 50%. But after washing your hands, you must still be mindful about face touching.”

https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/how-newsrooms-can-tone-down-their-coronavirus-coverage-while-still-reporting-responsibly/

UN Report Shows Bias Against Women

Gender Study Finds Bias Is Strong

As reported by the BBC:

Zimbabwe had the highest amount of bias.

In China, 55% of people thought men were better suited to be political leaders.

Around 39% of people in the US, which is yet to have a female president, thought men made better leaders.

However in New Zealand, a country that currently has a female leader, only 27% of people thought that.

Pedro Conceição, head of UNDP's Human Development Report Office said: "We have come a long way in recent decades to ensure that women have the same access to life's basic needs as men.

"But gender gaps are still all too obvious in other areas, particularly those that challenge power relations and are most influential in actually achieving true equality. Today. the fight about gender equality is a story of bias and prejudices."

UN report shows 90% worldwide bias against women.

The record number of women running for president has renewed the discussion of gender in politics according the Pew Research.

Fast facts on the challenges Americans see for female political candidates as Warren exits 2020 race

"49% of U.S. adults said gender discrimination was a major reason why there were fewer women than men in high political offices, including 59% of women and 36% of men who said this."

Outcomes Count Most

What if instead of a feelings advocacy we had an outcome advocacy that put equitable outcomes before our guilt and anguish? What if we focused our human and fiscal resources on changing power and policy to actually make society, not just our feelings, better?

- Ibram X. Kendi

It's not the number of clients served, it's the number of clients who benefited from our services.

The Republic's Demise

Are We Giving the Republic Away?

The new defense is, everything he does is in the public interest. Therefore, whatever he does, no matter how corrupt, is permissible. Then, what's the next step? Throwing your political opponents in jail? We already have a trial without evidence and witnesses. Do you understand where this is all going?

Alan Dershowitz, a member of Trump’s legal team, said a president could do virtually anything — including engaging in a quid pro quo for a purely political benefit — as long as it's in service of winning reelection. (Politico)

Politico also quoted Adam Schiff on this issue. Dershowitz’s view gives a president “carte blanche” to use his or her office to further his or her own political interests, rather than the interests of the nation. It puts the president above the law and the constitution.

Isn't this what happens in Putin's Russia. Isn't this what happened in Hitler's Germany? 

How will you be remembered?

A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor's.

- Richard Whately

Our Calling

God didn't call America to do what she's doing in the world now. - Martin Luther King Jr.

What is our calling? It's based on the founding ideals found in the Declaration of Independence.

When writing the Declaration, Jefferson mentioned four ideals that have shaped all of The United States' history. These ideals were Equality, Consent of the Governed, the unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, and finally, the Right of the People to alter or abolish the Government.

How have we fallen short?

• Racism
• Inequality
• Segregation
• Discrimination
• Hatred
• Greed
• Hatred

All of these fueled by fear. That fear comes from the top. We will not reach the ideal or Dr. King's dream unless we are will to stand up for a just America.

Change is Essential

A Change is Coming

Without change there is no progress. There is no progress unless we all become motivated to make the change.

Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator and change has its enemies.
- Robert F. Kennedy

Calling for change and doing nothing leads to cynicism and apathy.

Compassion is an unstable emotion. It needs to be translated into action, or it withers. The question is what to do with the feelings that have been aroused. . . . If one feels that there is nothing “we” can do — but who is that “we”? — and nothing “they” can do either — and who are “they”? — then one starts to get bored, cynical, apathetic.- Susan Sontag

If you're looking for reinforcement, the motivation comes from those who are willing to join together in a common goal. Sometimes the motivation comes from inspirational leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Sometimes the strength to move forward comes from music like Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony or the Spiritual, "A Change is Gonna' Come."

Whatever it is, use all the tools at your disposal. It's takes perseverance and a willingness to be in it for the long haul. No matter the change, there will be those vested in keeping things the way they are. They might have the power for now, but their hold on power is subject to change. Their words will trip them. Their power will evade their grasp, if we are willing to speak up and are motivated to action.

Proverbs 11:17 “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.”