A high administration official today blamed the news media for "sensationalizing" the corona virus story.
Consider: The first confirmed case was recorded in Seattle Jan. 29, and a few days later the president said there were only five cases nationally and the total would be down to zero "very soon." Today, exactly eight weeks later, there are 75,000 confirmed cases nationwide, and 1,100 deaths. America now ranks second worldwide in the number of corona virus fatalities, after surpassing Italy.
Separately, the president blamed news media reporting of the pandemic a conspiracy by journalists to prevent his re-election.
So have the news media "sensationalized" the story?
No need. This is by any measure a sensational story, and straight reporting alone sensationalizes the story. The rocketing curve of infections and deaths, which at this writing remains on a sharp upward slant, makes it sensational. And yes, slant is another word that is often used by politicians who don't like the coverage and attack news media.
Remember also that the term "media" is only the plural form of "medium," that which in the middle, and carries a message from one person or place to another.
Blaming the news media for straight reporting of information that is detrimental to a politician's statements, policies and strategies, loading the word "sensational" with negative connotations in order to shift guilt is a form of hypocrisy.
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