Bild slammed after German tabloid blames scientists for lockdown | News | DW

[ad_1]

The Humboldt University in Berlin and the Alliance of Scientific Organizations of Germany on Monday opposed the tabloid Bild’s coverage which criticized scientists for the restrictions recently implemented due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bild is Germany’s most popular newspaper and on Saturday published photos of three scientists under the headline: “Expert trio gives us frustration for the holidays.

The article was published after new restrictions took effect.

What has been the response of the scientific community?

The Alliance of Scientific Organizations has criticized Bild for contributing to public hostility towards scientists as the pandemic still rages on.

Humboldt University filed a complaint with the German Press Council over the article. Scientists at the German capital university, including physicist and biologist Dirk Brockmann, were described as “lock-makers” in Bild’s article.

In a statement released on Monday, the Alliance of Scientific Organizations said Bild gave the impression that the three researchers were personally responsible for the increased restrictions.

The association said the coverage could “easily contribute to a climate of opinion which has already led scientists elsewhere to be subjected or threatened with physical or psychological violence.”

What did Bild say about the article?

Axel Springer, publisher of Bild, said the company understands the criticisms and takes them seriously.

In a statement, the publisher said: “Criticism of scientists and their proposal must be possible, but it must always be done appropriately.”

ar / jsi (AP, epd)

[ad_2]