Scientists Slam German Tabloid's Pandemic Coverage

Scientific organizations in Germany have accused the country’s biggest-selling newspaper of

contributing to public hostility against scientists during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Associated Press

Dec. 6, 2021, at 3:46 p.m.

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Scientists Slam German Tabloid's Pandemic Coverage

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People queue in front of a vaccination center to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in Duesseldorf,
Germany, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BERLIN (AP) — A group representing Germany's main scientific organizations has accused the country's
biggest-selling newspaper of contributing to public hostility against scientists during the coronavirus
pandemic.

In a statement Monday, the Alliance of Scientific Organization criticized a recent report by the Bild
tabloid for singling out three researchers who had called for tougher restrictions to reduce COVID-19
infections in Germany.
The paper published pictures of the three scientists Saturday with the headline “Trio of experts give us
frustration for the holidays.” It came days after German federal and state officials agreed to tighten
existing restrictions, particularly for unvaccinated people, amid a surge of new cases.

The alliance said making it seem like the three researchers personally were responsible for unpopular
measures could “easily contribute to a climate of opinion that has elsewhere already led to scientists
being subjected to or threatened with physical or psychological violence.”

It said fact-based reporting and debate would be preferable and more effective.

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