Swine Flu Bunk

I saw this little paragraph in the news today:

"Mexico reported three new deaths from the swine flu epidemic late Saturday from a virus that has killed 19 in people in Mexico, one in the U.S. and is spreading across Asia and Europe."

Ten days ago, it was widely reported on many stations and in newspapers 150 people had died in Mexico of the swine flu. So far there are supposedly 141 cases in the US. But that depends on what report you read. One report said hundreds of children were sick with swine flu in New York.

What do I think after reading or watching the conflicting outrageous media reports? I think the media is way messed up in its fact reporting ability.

I watched Charlie Gibson on the ABC news, one night last week, use the word "terrified" to describe the American people's reaction to swine flu. I wanted to write him a letter. I wanted to say, "Number one, Charlie, nobody is terrified. Number two, Charlie, you are reporting news. Don't use emotional words that skew your report, not unless you can quantify and prove the American people are terrified."

The manner news is reported sucks these days. Facts are no longer important to a report.