Some conservative radio talkers downplayed covid-19 threat and criticized efforts to blunt its spread, ProPublica reports - Entrepreneur Generations

Several conservative radio talk-show hosts, "including at least four of the 12 most listened to as measured by Talkers," an industry magazine, "have downplayed the threat of the coronavirus and criticized efforts to blunt its spread," Jack Gillum and Derek Willis report for ProPublica.

The reporters did their research in archives of TVEyes.com and Cortico, a noprofit that says it works with the MIT Media Lab "to foster constructive public conversation in communities and the media that improves our understanding of one another."

Even after President Trump declared March 13 that the coronavirus and its covid-19 disease constituted a national emergency, "Some hosts groused that aggressive measures to contain the disease were a political ploy to undercut the president or ram through unpopular Democratic legislation," ProPublica reports. Polling before Trump's declaration showed considerably less concern among Republicans about the virus than among Democrats; that gap has since narrowed.

"Although the hosts conceded that some level of concern about covid-19 is justified, their skepticism could deter their audiences from self-quarantining, social distancing and other behavioral changes that health officials say are necessary. As recently as last week, some Americans continued to gather on Florida beaches, revel in spring break festivities or otherwise ignore guidance. A World Health Organization spokeswoman warned Tuesday that the U.S. could become the next epicenter of the global pandemic, Reuters reported."

from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/2WQm2tY Some conservative radio talkers downplayed covid-19 threat and criticized efforts to blunt its spread, ProPublica reports - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

Tweet