The ZDF published a report on the Omikron mutation of Corona in “heute journal”. The photo chosen for this, however, led to an outcry and criticism rained down.
Munich – Although relatively little is known, some experts assume that the omicron mutant of the coronavirus * could be far more dangerous and contagious than previous variants of the deadly virus. The mutation therefore appears at the top of the Corona reporting in the media. This is also the case with ZDF *, which, however, received massive criticism with a current report on the subject.
Responsible for the outcry and the rejection of the viewers on the net was not the content of the report itself, but the selected photo. Many were shocked.
Omikron report: ZDF causes a stir with a crooked photo – black woman from South Africa selected
In “heute journal” on Saturday evening (December 4th) the ZDF published an Omikron report with the title “Omikron: Infections explode”. The around 15-minute video was later uploaded to the ZDF media library and the station’s YouTube channel.
There was one problem, however: not incorrect information or technical errors, but rather the selection of photos. A highly abstract image of a black woman was chosen as the photo. The photo is actually a wall in the South African settlement of Soweto in the south of Johannesburg. The face of an African woman wearing a mask is painted on the wall, which is intended to use graffiti to warn the local population about the danger of the coronavirus.
The photo of this wall seemed apt for reporting by ZDF, but protests quickly arose because the Omikron variant was first discovered in South Africa, but it is apparently much older. Exact information on the origin is not yet available. The variant was only discovered in South Africa because medical research in that country is at a very high level. The ZDF report, however, inevitably suggests that the variant comes from South Africa and was distributed throughout the world from there.
Omikron report on ZDF: Viewers protest on social media – the broadcaster responds with an apology
The illustration of the ZDF report did not remain without reactions. Many users on Twitter rejected the photo and asked the broadcaster to withdraw the photo. “Short question to @ZDFheute – are you kidding me?” Wrote an angry user and added that he couldn’t express it more politely. Hundreds of other users in the comments joined in.
“Hi ZDF, you’d better take back this representation as soon as possible,” said another tweet from a user. Some also accused the station of racism. ZDF then responded by removing the photo and apologizing. “We exchanged the thumbnail of the affected video because the previous background image in combination with the headline could be understood as a context that was not intended. We apologize, “was the answer. (bb) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
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