COMMENT | Does public need to know? Media's role in reporting pandemic

COMMENT | Last week, a local daily reported on the death of a medical frontliner who suffered a fatal heart attack. On a regular news day, this would not be notable but the frontliner had received the Covid-19 vaccine and the translated headline read simply as “Nurse who received vaccine dies of heart illness”.

While not incorrect, the arrangement of the headline and the fact that it was presented as news, would invariably lead people to the false conclusion that the death may have been caused by the vaccine.

This incendiary headline drew ire from the coordinator of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, Khairy Jamaluddin, who condemned the news outlet for spreading misinformation and damaging public confidence in the vaccination process. The daily then posted a retraction with an apology.

This is an interesting case as it highlights the role and importance of the media in presenting relevant news and information that shapes the...