Coronavirus | Television News Coverage

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BBC News just went straight from one studio based correspondent saying we can expect this to go on for two more years to a report saying China's reported 0 domestic cases today. I understand the actual detail in the reports explains these contrasting stories but there doesn't seem to be any sort of commentary that bridges them, providing some continuity between what's being reported. It all shows a lack of understanding of how many people digest news.

I've found the BBC's reporting pretty disappointing altogether to be honest.

I've switched to C4 News as the main source of TV info for CV19. Myself and Mrs MM have largley abandoned the BBC 10pm news now, it's not the thing to retire to bed with. One spoonful per day is enough we've decided

I agree. I've put the PIN lock on the news channels.

Yes, I've long rationed myself to one bulletin a day as much as possible.

I think just for people's wellbeing, it's best to limit the amount of news they watch a day. Once or twice seems sufficient and keep your mind active doing something else.

Could really do with something like "Sky News Corona Free".

This situation is far too serious for something like that. For many people, Covid-19 is literally a matter of life and death. There are plenty of escapist options available on non-news channels.

Besides, what would such a channel report in the first place? With the world at a standstill, there isn't much happening that isn't Covid-19-related.

I realise there are serious concerns, and television companies have to be seen doing the right thing, but there is something faintly comical about seeing BBC News correspondents holding these long-distance microphones, when interviewing guests. They look more like Roman legionaries preparing to attack the Germanic hordes.

Likewise, I’m working at home until further notice and I’ve been watching the BBC News at One O’Clock everyday this week, and that’s as far as I go. Social media is bad enough so it’s nice to try and avoid it on TV if I can, especially later on of an evening.

Both posts have valid points. "Sky News Brexit-Free" was a response to the domination that the UK's withdrawal from the EU was having over all other news

With Covid-19 all other news has not been eliminated but the unprecedented magnitude has made anything that isn't related in any way to the virus irrelevant.

I will concede however that the acres of coverage given over to "talking heads" is getting a bit annoying. Far better in my opinion to just have 1 "block" of coverage covering both the daily press conference and any related news.

That way we could have a little bit of escapism. Not going to happen I know but its a though (Full disclosure, I stopped watching the press conference after 5 minutes and started watching Last Of The Summer Wine)



I agree that there is something a bit daft about the microphones but the sheer uncertainty over how the virus actually works had led to improvisation

(It does strike me as something Monty Python would have done)

We tend to naturally ration our news viewing as we have children and its times like this we're glad they are quite demanding of their programmes.

But of course as soon as we pick up our phones we can't avoid it. I've turned off BBC news app notifications as they were getting too much. It's important to get updates when you want it, not when it gets pushed to you.

I have had a couple of colleagues sit at work obsessing over every stat and bit of news, announcing details of everytime the death toll went gone up. That's not healthy

That said you can't avoid it on social media but currently it has generally gone over to the making light and the best of the situation. Though with months ahead I wonder how long the memes and jokes will last.