Facts, not politics. Numbers, not opinions. Science, not guesses.
In these confusing times of COVID-19 misinformation, disingenuous politicians who care more about future elections than their constituents and people who would rather listen to friends than actual scientists, it’s important for news organizations to come hard with facts.
That’s why this tweet from CNN anchor and correspondent Ana Cabrera jumped out to me on Monday: “More than 99.99% of fully vaccinated people have not had a severe breakthrough case of Covid-19, according to a CNN analysis of CDC data as of August 2nd.”
Read that again — 99.99%.
Here’s more. CNN’s Deidre McPhillips writes, “As of Aug. 2, more than 164 million people in the United States were fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the CDC. Fewer than 0.001% of those individuals — 1,507 people — died and fewer than 0.005% — 7,101 people — were hospitalized with Covid-19. … About three-quarters (74%) of all reported breakthrough cases were among seniors age 65 or older. Of the roughly 1,500 people who died, one in five passed away from something other than Covid-19 even though they had a breakthrough case of the virus, according to the CDC.”
These are the kinds of fact-based stories that need to be publicized to show the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations. These are the kinds of numbers-based stories that news outlets need to publish to inform their audiences.
Give audiences the details and be sure to put them in proper context. Don’t just list the number of cases or hospitalizations or deaths. Include all the numbers, such as percentages, to see how Americans are being impacted, and how best to combat this pandemic.
This isn’t about painting rainbows or, conversely, seeing glasses as half-empty. This is about giving audiences facts, giving them numbers.
And here are more numbers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (via CNN):
Number of fully vaccinated: 50.2% of the total US population (all ages).
Not vaccinated: 31.2% of the eligible population (12+).
Current pace of vaccinations (7-day average): 486,332 people are initiating vaccination each day.
All these numbers help us trust the scientists and medical experts, as opposed to politicians and our high school buddies who rant and rave on Facebook. As Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told CNN, “It’s a medical and public health challenge, and politicians should really let the public health and physician leaders move forward on how to get this thing under control.”
Jha added, “For any other disease, you would not turn to your political leader for medical advice, right? If you had cancer or if you had a heart attack, you wouldn’t call up your congressman or woman and say, ‘What’s the right therapy I should get?’ You should be talking to your doctor. You should be talking to your healthcare provider.”
And media outlets should be relying on such sources for their stories.
Facts. Numbers. Medical experts. Science.
That’s what news organizations should be highlighting.
Must-read story of the day
I’ve been writing this newsletter for more than two and a half years and have recommended hundreds upon hundreds — maybe thousands — of stories for you to read/watch/listen to. I cannot think of many I would recommend more than a new piece in The Atlantic by Jennifer Senior.
The story — “WHAT BOBBY MCILVAINE LEFT BEHIND” — is an incredibly well-written, richly reported story about a young man killed in the 9/11 attacks and the lifelong impact it has had on his parents and the woman he had planned on marrying.
Senior not only beautifully and, at times, painfully tells the intimate story of grieving, but also reveals her deep personal questions that elicit exceptionally honest responses.
It’s a stunning piece of writing and story that will stay with you long after you’ve read it. Truly powerful. I would reveal more details about the story, but it’s best if you set aside some time in a quiet place and just start reading.
Here’s a Twitter thread from Senior about the story.
The Atlantic’s good year
Speaking of The Atlantic, its paid readership increased by more than 280,000 over the past year, according to the latest circulation statement filed with the Alliance for Audited Media. The Atlantic’s total circulation through the first half of 2021 is 833,410. This represents print and digital subscribers and newsstand sales.
In a note to staff, editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg and CEO Nicholas Thompson said, “Everyone at The Atlantic has played a role in building and growing our paying audience. We hope you feel great pride in the work we’ve accomplished together. Onward.”
Olympic numbers
