By Uthman Oriyomi
Aside the world wars,no other issue or social problem seem to have given humanity concern as the Corona virus pandemic, also known as COVID 19.Unlike the World wars which affected some countries, Corona virus had no boundaries,no respected region. The media which is an apparatus or platform for transmitting information and news to a wide dispersed audience has being providing coverage about body stories and continuous update since the pandemic outbreak in Wuhan, China in December,2019. The outbreak of Corona virus (COVID 19) was reported in Wuhan,Hubei Province, China and has since rapidly across the world. As at April 6,2020 the total infected person worldwide increased from 75,000 and 2,000 deaths between January 30 to 1,210 infected person and death rate increased to 67,594 as at April 6,2020. The World Health Organization (WHO),US Center for Disease Control and Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria disclosed that COVID 19 symthoms include: Fatigue,cold,cough, breathing difficulties,thick mucus in the membrane, diarrhea are common features among the suffers. When you compare the amount of the people known the virus when it first emerged (nothing!) to the amount known now, including its clinical e and the risks demographics it is truly remarkable, the media has played significant role in informing and educating the global and local populace. The media: print, broadcast and digital media supplying daily news, reporting research findings in search of the cure, educating the audience about prevention such as Social distancing, wearing of Facemasks, have intensely provided broadcast documentaries on the causative agents.Origin of the virus traced to Bats specie, medical opinions and numerous interviews with experts on curtailing the spread of the pandemic. The International media have successfully traced the origin of Covid 19 virus to have developed in Bats and later Pangolins.In December 2019,27 of the first 41 people to be hospitalized (66%) passed through the Market located in the heart of Wuhan City in Hubei Province of China.However, molecular dating estimate based on the SARS–CoV–2 gemonic sequence indicate an origin in November. Newsrooms accross the globe have made the pandemic coverage a priority, setting the agenda, reinforcing the news on the devastating effect of the global economy and across all sectors. According to Otun Olalekan,a media studies expert,he said “with large portions of the public staying at home amidst the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown to help stem the spread of the virus, people have few options but to rely heavily on the media and their mobile technologies to keep updated and stay connected to news. The deluge of information that bombarded us daily was truly overwhelming.From both the Orthodox traditional and non traditional or digital media,the education about the Corona virus prevention and location of palliatives proved more significant under circumstance”he said. The media further demonstrated their power to influence social attitude by raising awareness about campaigns on washing of hands,use of sanitizer with alcohol base content, maintaining social distancing and brought about change of attitude and behavior to promote hygiene and clean environment. Another media studies guru,Dr Bolu Folayan cited numbers of reported by American trade publication Adweek,he said that CNN,Fox and MSNBC (foreign broadcast media) and our stations such as TVC,NTA and Channels TV reportage on Covid 19 news was very impactful. “What this mean is that, in the context of COVID 19 reportage, when it was critical with authoritative information about the outbreak,the media gatekeepers set the agenda rightly in telling us what to think about during the lockdown and how to prevent the spread of this pandemic disease”. He further explained:”people, audience listeners got a lot of authentic news through video on their devices and listen to a lot of current affairs programmes on podcast and most of them watch TV news or listen to talk radio” he analysed. The social media scene,he added,”you still find the New York Times,the BBC and the London Free Press reporting on COVID 19 on Twitter and Instagram handles, fighting for space alongside influencers and conspiracy theorist. The media has played a crucial role in this pandemic period,such as:1.More than a Science story:The COVID 19 disease has become far more than a health and Science story and remit of health and science Journalists but serves as a Market place of ideas, providing readers and listeners with information about health and science happenings around them and in the globe.2. Giving update on the infected numbers of persons and death cases as it emerges in many Countries.Media has being keeping people abreast on the cases of COVID 19 as it spread to every nook and cranies of the world.3.Media has been interpreting what health professionals sees as solution and preventing spread of the virus,such as : social distancing, avoid mass gathering,use of Facemasks, constant washing of the hand and the use of hand sanitizers.
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