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UNT expert available to discuss media's swine flu coverage
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The H1N1 virus continues to be a major news story. Nann Goplerud, interim chair of the Department of News in UNT's Mayborn School of Journalism, is available to comment on the role of the media during an event such as the H1N1 outbreak. "Both the beauty and the danger of the 24/7 Internet has to do with access to information -- beauty because the information is always available, danger because much of it is incorrect or simply made up. An event like the H1N1 flu outbreak is a perfect opportunity for the traditional news media to again demonstrate its importance to society," she says. Goplerud cautions that the media must strike a balance between convincing people a threat is serious while not causing widespread panic. "The tone of the news coverage is critical in a situation like this -- in print, on air and online. This kind of public health emergency is an opportunity for the media to show it's not going to cause a panic, but instead create calm by providing expert advice from medical professionals, updated information on school closings, trends in the spread of the illness, resources about care and other information that will help consumers make choices about their health." Goplerud says the media can help prevent another Black Death or similar widespread epidemic by providing well-researched, timely information. "The better informed people are and the more easily they can access information, the more able they are to take steps to prevent another widespread illness." Goplerud has more than 30 years of experience as a broadcast news reporter and news manager, including 21 years at WFAA-TV (Channel 8) in Dallas-Fort Worth. She is currently teaching intermediate and advanced broadcast news writing and reporting classes, as well as media ethics. Goplerud may be contacted at 940-565-2591 or Goplerud@unt.edu.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Sarah Bahari (940) 565-4835
Email: sarah.bahari@unt.edu
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