Covid: as we move down levels we should reflect on the patriotism of some in the media (pn696)

While most of the team of 5 million is trying to beat Covid, it seems some in the media continue to abuse free speech  by undermining what we are doing.  Apparently, profit sales and personal back-slapping  are more important to the media giants and their sycofant journalists than people's lives and safety.  The main target, of course, is the government and most particularly Jacinda Ardern.  The doomsters far outdo National and Act's not always balanced criticism.

No one has ever claimed we've had every measure right, Jacinda and Ashley Bloomfield least of all.   It's an ongoing learning situation to which we understandably respond more than we anticipate. We've chosen to go along the elimination route, saving lives at the expense of some economic hardship,  and have been applauded worldwide for our efforts.

Yet this morning's NZ Politics Daily which lists news releases under separate headings, had 9 negative headings out of the 27 items on Covid. 

Typical headings were:  

•  MOH contradicts PM
• Cracks in Government countdowns
• Has PM Jacinda Ardern lost the room?,  
• Government hade a mistake in moving Auckland to Level 3 (Heather du Plessis)
• Dr Bloomfield's... alternative career choice
• Government needs to update its strategy (Peter Dunne)

Dunne and not one of the journalists have any medical training, and few cite medical sources. What we get is their untrained and highly biased opinions, channelled by the right-wing NZ Herald and its associate Newstalk ZB.  

We deserve better than this!

-- ACW