There’s still a great deal that we don’t know about COVID, how it will continue to develop, and what future pandemics might occur. An expert on immunity offered several insights, such as the fact that climate change, air travel, and increasing encroachment on animal environments have all made it easier for diseases like HIV and SARS-COV-2 to jump species and achieve pandemic status. A more promising observation was that researchers have already identified genes that affect people’s susceptibility to COVID infection, and are beginning to use that to tailor treatments. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
