Marce Vives: 5-step Critical Analysis Process

 

This critical-analysis is done on Virginia´s news repository on the article "Coronavirus: WHO fails to find an animal source of Covid-19" by Richard Connor. This article explains how a team of the World Health Organization is still fighting to find the animal who was the source of transmission of this disease,, a team has visited Wuhan, the source of the outbreak to finally try to put an end to that matter. Virginia explains that this article is a great example of "media serving democracy" since it shows both sides of the issue. I agree with her as well as with the fact that this article is correct and fair due to the authorities in China hiding certain information from the rest of the world.

Description: This article begins by explaining the investigation that the World Health Organization is doing regarding the main source and origin of the Covid-19 pandemic. It explains that scientists believe that this disease is originated in bats. However, the WHO team who is visiting Wuhan is debating whether this virus was actually transmitted by bats or another animal source, and is looking into this. This group is working with Chinese experts and has found certain findings. Peter Ben Embarek, a WHO expert, explained that everything seemed to point at a natural reservoir of bats, however, due to the lack of bat environments found in Wuhan, it seems that this was transmitted from another animal. Testing has been made yet nothing seems to come out of it. They believe that there is also a possibility of this being transmitted through bats or even frozen food. One of the team members, Mario Koopmans said that it was essential to analyze all of the other animals and products that were present in said market. WHO also rejected the hypothesis that this was all a lab outbreak because it "is unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus in the human population" said Embarek. The group is finally visiting China because the Chinese government only agreed to it after immense international pressure as well as many critics after the Chinese authorities barely have released any information about this virus.

Analysis: This article provides information on the ongoing investigation in China, explaining the reasoning behind the theories, the lack of information to approve certain hypotheses, and everything behind why this investigation is only done until now. This article provides both sides of the issue and states how many of the believed theories could in fact be false, This article lacks critics against China as many other nations have held China accountable, resulting in racial issues against Chinese people. It is backed by words by WHO experts as well as certain Chinese experts which provides both sides. It also admits to the fact that Chinese authorities have only decided to open up to international investigation due to the immense pressure they were under.

Interpretation: I believe this article doesn't really provide any relevant information, meaning it is a simple statement that declares the current status of investigators, I believe to calm the public down, as well as to release pressure from other nations who hold China accountable and blame C Chinese people for this. This article simply states the ongoing investigation and rejects a hypothesis ever made due to them not having enough evidence to proclaim one as certain.

Evaluation: I think this article, as I mentioned earlier, has informational purposes as well as a way to gain time before the public starts putting more pressure on scientists and investigators to find the root of the issue. This statement makes people aware of the fact that an investigation is taking place and experts are doing everything they can to find the main issue, despite them doing it so far ahead of the pandemic, they give the reasoning for this and provide with words said by their experts which help calm down the public by making them aware that they are doing everything they can

 Engagement: I think this article, as Virginia mentioned in her summary, is in fact a great example of media serving democracy. As they don´t seem to hide information, admit to their lack of knowledge in the subject but explain how everything is being investigated while providing information of both sides. I believe that if WHO kept releasing articles and keeping the public up to date for their investigation, they could get a better response as well as help the people feel safer and more comfortable whilst also being cautious and careful. 

Sources 

Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). (2021, February 9). WHO fails to find animal source of COVID-19. DW.COM. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-who-fails-to-find-animal-source-of-covid-19/a-56508989