It's News...

 

 

I’m at a loss in responding to a constant drumbeat from our listeners not pleased with our coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The story has been in every newscast since March. We all grow weary of reporting the health department stats repeatedly. But I don’t regret the prominence of the story here. It is news.

I got three messages over the weekend. “Enough” was the clear message. Those messages came as the numbers went up dramatically.

I understand that less than one percent of the residents of Wayne County have been afflicted. I understand that many of the people who test positive have minor symptoms and recover.

But when I posted an update a few weeks ago on our Facebook page without the death total, there were allegations I was trying to whitewash the issue. The radio station's integrity was questioned. So we pass along the numbers. We don’t interpret them on our news. We report and you can choose to believe local health officials and make up your own mind about the severity of the pandemic within the sound of my voice.

So here’s my response to my friends who are displeased with our COVID coverage.

I pray each day for a pandemic-free newscast. Nothing would make me happier. In the meantime, as long as local health departments send us the latest numbers, we will continue to report them as news.