Journalists have important role in reporting Omicron
As we’re flooded with news about the Covid Omicron variant, it’s important to remember our role as journalists in not speculating, fueling misinformation, or spreading panic.

On Nov. 30, the Washington Post wrote about the media are “freaking out” over Omicron. “Over the weekend, a debate took shape, among experts and journalists, as to whether all the coverage was too much. David Dowdy, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, accused fellow scientists of shamefully overselling fears about Omicron despite the paucity of hard data on the variant; Erin Biba, a freelance science journalist, tweeted that it is “completely and utterly exhausting” when “doomsday headlines and uninformed reporters create mass hysteria before we even have any details or information.”

Meanwhile, SFGate discusses how Omicron is reviving “old conspiracy theories…as widely shared social media posts falsely claimed the omicron variant was nothing but a cover-up for darker agendas.” These false claims included that Omicron was invented as an excuse to change voting laws, or as a distraction from the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, or that Omicron was made up by President Biden to scare Americans. 

Others, however, praise the media for their Omicron coverage. Tom Jones writes at Poynter.org that “If you’re a news consumer, the coverage — for the most part — has been comprehensive and responsible.” He cites thorough interviews with experts who have cautioned that answers to most of our Omicron questions are several weeks away. Jones said the media have “turned to experts who have been quick to relay what we know and, most importantly, what we don’t know.” 

I agree with Jones. In this instance, the "what we don’t know" should be the headline. Toward this end, I recommend the article over the weekend in The Atlantic (Should you be panicking? No, but you should be paying attention). 

As a peace journalist, I offer these tips for responsible Omicron reporting:

1. Accuracy is paramount. Initial reports can be exaggerated. Facts can be slippery in mid-crisis. Don’t speculate. Check, double check, triple check facts with experts like virologists and epidemiologists. (Remember, politicians are not experts.)

2. Don’t prematurely jump on the “blame” bandwagon, or to conclusions. This variant isn’t South Africa’s “fault.” In fact, South Africa should be lauded for its openness in revealing and discussing Omicron.

3. Avoid inflammatory, sensational language that exacerbates the situation. Never embellish stories.

4. Don’t be shy in saying, and repeating, “We don’t know.”

5. Research the possible treatments, cures, and vaccines, so you know the background and can be sensitive to contested narratives and misinformation (vaccines are dangerous, hydroxychloroquine is a cure, lockdowns aren’t necessary, eg).

6. When reporting about the Omicron variant and the pandemic in general, journalists should give a voice to the vulnerable, marginalized voiceless in their societies—minorities, the poor, homeless, prisoners, immigrants, etc. How will they potentially be impacted by Omicron?

7. Reject partisan framing of Omicron, and call out partisan, polarizing framing in other media outlets.