F.You can almost feel sorry when you look at the topics of previous Maybrit Illner programs: “Slow vaccination, fast virus”, “What comes after the shutdown?”, “First lockdown, then vaccination”, “Strength until vaccination? “,” How far is Germany going down? “- and yesterday evening:” Vaccinations, masks, mutations – is there a threat of endless shutdown? ” It is difficult to imagine more monotony. The only question is whether we should rather pity the viewers who have to pay for such formats in the loop, or the presenter who has to ponder the same questions over and over again.
Anyway: A slightly dramatic one-player with – Warning! – Sacred choral music in the background spices up the whole thing, ZDF may have thought (wrongly). So we are briefly informed again about the seriousness of the situation, the measures of the federal government, uncertainties and certainties in the “impending endless shutdown”. Then Maybrit Illner asks emotionally: “What does that do with the citizens?”
This immediately calls the columnist and author Sascha Lobo onto the scene, who, when he’s not scolding, looks into the camera like a stubborn child and now complains: There is a great deal of uncertainty among the population due to the constant back and forth of politics ; communication is extremely poor; the inconsistency of the measures makes people mad and is incomprehensible. One could counter that this may be a consequence of the political decision to “drive on sight” as long as the pandemic development cannot be finally captured. But how could things go differently in such a situation?
The danger of mutation
The virologist Melanie Brinkmann, who warns against loosening the current restrictions, gives an interesting insight – greeted by Illner as a “guest” in all seriousness. If the mutation from England spreads in this country, the current measures would not be enough, she explains. However, political communication needs to be refined. The contact restrictions are not primarily about the number of contacts, but above all about constant contacts – you can always meet the same people, not any number of individuals. She believes it would be better to set a strict long-term goal so that you don’t have to readjust again and again. You have an R-factor of 0.7 as a guideline.
Illner always accompanies all the explanations of her guests with annoying interludes such as “mhm” or “okay”, which any meaningful speech training should actually wean the moderators off. Sascha Lobo meanwhile has his own agenda and continues to rage against Chancellor Helge Braun (CDU): “Until 48 hours ago we had the situation that every children’s walk was more strictly regulated than the offices of the Federal Republic.” The Corona warning app is faulty and developed much too slowly; but even that is not clearly communicated by the government.
Meanwhile, in a second drama clip on ZDF, you have to put up with a number of syringe pictures. Has anyone ever thought about the fact that there is no need to keep showing pricking syringes on flabby arms to draw attention to the vaccination process? There may be viewers who really don’t like to watch it.
A huge success?
Meanwhile, Braun does not get involved with his critic Lobo, remains so calm in his loving-looking peculiarity that it almost has a drowsy effect, and repeats the standpoint of the federal government like a prayer wheel. One must act as a precaution. Vaccinations are no substitute for protective measures. It was decided to order the vaccine in Europe together and to act in solidarity. The fact that there is already a vaccine in such a short time is a huge success story.
Angela Merkel has emphasized this again and again. And isn’t she right about that? Not so long ago, some skeptics thought it unlikely that a vaccine would be found and approved that quickly. But for Lobo, this statement is just another reason to polemicize against Braun. To this extent the self-praise of the federal government is a cheek. You have dramatically underestimated the danger of the virus, and now there is far too little vaccine.
Manuela Schwesig (SPD), who, as Prime Minister in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, has the highest vaccination quota in Germany with 2.8 percent of the population, is “totally disappointed” that not enough vaccine has been ordered. You would not have thought that the EU is “gambling” here. After all, the vaccine is a bright spot in these gloomy times. And she always believe in a bright spot in dark times. The many days that they could not vaccinate due to a lack of delivery could not be made up for. If the mutation spreads, it will be too late for that in June.
Important topics are forgotten
Finally, Christiane Woopen, Chair of the European Ethics Council, raises the important question of how a fair distribution of the vaccine can be guaranteed with a view to Africa, which is being completely neglected in the discussions. Illner puts the question back – and then it is forgotten. Too bad.
If public service television had something else to offer in its nightly news events than exhausted mono-thematic talk shows in tiresome repetitions, that would also be a ray of hope in dark times.
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