A report by the Bild newspaper makes three researchers personally responsible for corona rules. Science organizations are fighting back.
Frankfurt / Berlin – Numerous scientists defend themselves against the reporting of the Bild-Zeitung about the work and influence of researchers in the corona pandemic. According to a statement by the Alliance of Science Organizations published on Monday (December 6th, 2021), Bild is continuing “the one-sided reporting it began last year against scientists who put their specialist expertise in the service of politics and society”. The reporting of the tabloid is defamatory.
The reason for the researchers’ criticism of the picture is a report entitled “The Lockdown Makers”, which appeared on Saturday (December 4th, 2021). In it, Bild makes the scientists Viola Priesemann, Dirk Brockmann and Michael Meyer-Hermann responsible for the corona measures, including the 2G rule, and pillory them with large portraits.
Corona reporting: Scientists sharply criticize Bild-Zeitung
This type of reporting would “put individual researchers on display and hold them personally responsible for urgently needed but unpopular measures to combat pandemics,” criticizes the Alliance of Science Organizations. This could contribute to a climate of opinion that has already led elsewhere to scientists being exposed to physical and psychological violence or being threatened with it.
Such forms of discussion are in no way acceptable and contradict the basic rules of a free and open society as well as the basic principles of our democracy, explain the scientists on the reporting of the Bild-Zeitung in the corona pandemic. The organization also called for more objectivity in the discussion and reporting.
“False claims”: Humboldt University complains about Corona reporting in the picture
The Berlin Humboldt University also criticized the reporting by Bild and lodged a complaint against the report with the press council. This type of journalistic representation is dangerous and irresponsible in the debates about the cohesion of society in pandemic times, according to a press release on Monday (December 6th, 2021). The scientists would be “marked” in this way. The Presidium of the Humboldt University refrained from making such false claims and declared its solidarity with everyone “who defended themselves against such deliberate false statements”.
Political economist Maja Goepel had already expressed her solidarity with the three researchers on Saturday (December 4th, 2021). “This is not just a lie, it is slander and a danger to the freedom of scientists to advise to the best of their ability,” Goepel explained on Twitter. Virologist Christian Drosten had asked politicians to correct the picture’s report in order to protect the scientists.
Criticism of Corona reporting by Bild: Karl Lauterbach shows solidarity
The future Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) contradicted the representation of the picture, which made the scientists responsible for the corona measures. “All decisions against unvaccinated people, for example, were made exclusively by politicians,” the health expert is quoted as saying by Deutschlandfunk. The scientists should not be offered to violent lateral thinkers as targets, explained Lauterbach.
“We can understand the criticism and take it seriously. Scientists deserve our respect, ”said a spokesman for the Bild newspaper when asked by the German Press Agency. Criticism of scientists and their suggestions must be possible, “but always be appropriately exercised”. Those who rule, change and determine people’s lives in this country have to endure criticism, said Bild editor-in-chief Johannes Boie in a comment on Monday (December 6th, 2021). However, criticism must be appropriately exercised. This also applies expressly to image.
The Bild newspaper attacked the virologist Christian Drosten last year. (Max Schäfer with dpa / epd)
