“These data are a stinging denial to the fear mongers.” It is with this shock formula that David Pujadas opened the last issue of his show on Thursday. 24 h Pujadas, the info in questions, before the schools start again. An introduction to an issue on the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in which he announced that “when we look at this data, we are very, very far from the climate of panic which is currently being maintained by the media, some politicians and some doctors “. The LCI journalist clarifies his words Monday at the microphone of Philippe Vandel in Media Culture
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“I believe that the media, globally, maintain a climate of fear”, reaffirms David Pujadas on Europe 1. “Fear sells. Fear is the ally of trade. Emotions sell and fear is emotion the most immediately noticeable, the one that elicits the most reactions. “
“Contamination is no longer such a relevant indicator”
The journalist also believes that “a part of the political class” and “a part also of the scientists and the doctors” also participate in this climate of fear vis-a-vis the Omicron variant, “for different reasons”. “Scientists and doctors have an interest in announcing the worst to cover themselves up and so that there are only good surprises, and to preserve the state of the hospital. They also have the memory of the episode of the ‘grippette’ “, he explains.
“In a way, everything pushes us towards fear”, continues David Pujadas. “Everything pushes us towards anxiety: the commercial aspect for the media, the precautionary principle aspect for the politicians, and the ‘I cover myself’ aspect for the doctors.”
The former presenter of the 20h of France 2 calls to look at the figures. “Today, we are presented with the 200,000 daily contaminations as a tragedy. However, the contamination today has nothing to do with the contamination of spring 2020, when it was the first variant and that we do not “was not vaccinated. Today, contamination is no longer such a relevant indicator,” he said. “So, let’s stop putting our spleen in court-bouillon every day and being in this climate of anxiety, when a lot of elements encourage, in a way, to be a little more serene. is all I’m saying, but it’s true that it infuriates me.