A Covid pandemic full of mixed messages - that has made clear the importance of reviewing information

A market of communication has emerged in which merchants of speculation, over-interpretation and disinformation have flourished, writes Samuel Lovett

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In many senses, it has been a pandemic of mixed messages.

From day one of the crisis there has been a cacophony of conflicting scientific voices, which has made it difficult to know who to listen to and what information to trust.

There have been plenty of star communicators – the likes of Professor Jonathan Van-Tam and soon-to-be Sir Chris Whitty spring to mind – but there have been many others who have merely muddied the waters with their messages.

Those who excelled have often struck the right balance in communicating what we do and don’t know. They haven’t been afraid to caveat their answers to the key questions, conveying that science, and all things Covid, cannot be viewed through a black-and-white lens.

Instead, they’ve made it clear that are many shades of grey to any one situation. Through their input, the public has come to better appreciate that there are few certainties to Covid-19. And when it comes to the indisputable facts – “the vaccines are safe and highly effective” – these voices of reason have been relentless in ramming them home.

At the same time, a market of communication has emerged in which merchants of speculation, over-interpretation and disinformation have flourished.

These individuals – scientists, politicians, talking heads – have perfected the art of cherry-picking data and messages that align with their political ideologies before repackaging them to their loyal followers.

The information gaps rightly left by our star communicators – “we don’t yet know how infectious this new variant is”, or, “we don’t how quickly protection fades” – have been dangerously exploited and filled by those seeking to reshape the Covid discourse to their own agendas.

It has all come at a cost. We will all know of friends, family members and neighbours who, intentionally or not, have referenced a speculative stat or statement they’ve encountered on the internet or news.

These missteps of truth, no matter how big or small, ultimately slow us down in better comprehending the complexities and caveats of Covid-19, in separating fact from fiction. And, as we continue to see on a daily basis, the consequences of that can be fatal.

Knowing which people and institutions in which to place our faith is far from easy, especially when even the most respected scientists, officials and experts deviate from one another in what they’re saying.

But whatever the context, it’s always worth stepping back, taking a moment to pause and resisting the urge to let your pre-existing perceptions and prejudices colour the content you’re consuming. Don’t be afraid to be critical or curious.

The messages out there may be mixed, for one reason or another, but that shouldn’t put us off from wading through those muddied waters in pursuit of the truth.