The Jordan Media Institute - Amman
Tuesday, the Jordan Media Institute hosted Dr. Mohammad Al-Hajjiri, a specialist in cardiology and catheterization, for a discussion on confronting the “information epidemic” primarily during the coronavirus pandemic. The discussion session in which students in the institute’s master’s program participated was held via Zoom.
Al-Hajjiri discussed the need to raise the credibility of media practices employed in the coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the role of journalists in the struggle against the information epidemic, which he considers equivalent to the role of doctors in the struggle against the recent virus.
He demonstrated to the students how rumors regarding the pandemic developed, providing a number of examples, including: rumors regarding Bill Gates’ development of a vaccine that includes a chip intended to be placed under the skin, rumors regarding the 5G network, and their relation to events that take place in the cartoon series “the Simpsons.” Al-Hajjiri noted that these represent a sample of the conspiracy theories promoted by different groups around the world. This is in addition to misinformation spread by local entities about developing a vaccine or about some foods that can protect against Covid-19.
Al-Hajjiri said that the huge quantity of information on the internet, coupled with incorrect explanations provided by people who lack specialized knowledge or expertise in the subject matter, has led to the spread of misinformation regarding the virus and contributed significantly to the spread of rumors.
He added: “Indeed, much of the current information on the internet regarding vaccines is untrue. It is being published by unreliable scientific journals, or circulated by ‘pseudo doctors’ from foreign countries, many of whom have had their license to practice withdrawn. However, the videos that they publish on sites like YouTube regarding coronavirus have reached a large number of viewers, and the media may fall into the trap of resorting to these sources, without researching its credibility, for a prime scoop.”
During the discussion, Al-Hajjiri emphasized to students the necessity that media outlets rely upon credible sources that have a history of integrity, especially when they select doctors to provide commentary regarding the pandemic. He insisted that journalists must verify the medical specializations of doctors, the universities from which they graduated, and whether they have published scientific research in reliable and officially registered scientific journals. This helps to avoid the spread of incorrect or incomplete information which might mislead the audience and weaken the efforts of countries in the struggle against the virus.
Dr. Mohammad Al-Hajjiri is a specialist in cardiology and catheterization, and the head of the cardiac electrophysiology department at the Mansfield Hospital in Ohio. He is also a member of the executive committee of Harvard Arab Alumni Association, and is active on social media in promoting health awareness. He has recently participated in sessions in the Arab Forum of Science Media and Communication alongside scientists and experts in the fields of media and scientific communication.