Investigative Report: How Bias Affects Online Reporting

Investigative Report: How Bias Affects Online Reporting

Section #1: Identification of the Selected Topic

The selected topic in this study seeks to determine if women are genetically stronger than men concerning the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. This is a controversial topic given that there are various schools of thought that have shown divergent compelling arguments. So far, so good, there are two conflicting groups of people as now as the issue of whether women are inherently tougher than men is concerned. The first group uses science-backed explanations in arguing that women are innately stronger than the menfolk. In contrast, the antagonist groups base their argument on the premise that by nature, men are wired to be dominant and thus are more genetically stronger than women giving them an edge in surviving the current pandemic.

Section #2: Identification of the Profiles of Authors

For this preliminary research for the investigative study, two texts were selected. The first text that was selected is an article published on a highly authoritative site, written by Annette Young. The title of the article is Coronavirus: Why do more men die of Covid-19 than women? The other article was published on another authoritative site, written by Rosemond Hutt, a senior writer. The title of the article is The Coronavirus Fallout May Be Worse for Women than Men. Here’s Why. Annette argues that genetically, women are stronger than men since they have estrogen hormone, which doesn’t tear their immune system. She further explains that men have testosterone, a hormone that has anti-inflammatory effects on their immune system, therefore suppressing it in case of an infection. Rosemond, on the other hand, does not think so. The writer alludes to the gender disparity in roles, categorically stating that women have been for long dominated by men, and carry out risky careers such as care. The writer cites the fact that the majority of healthcare workers, especially the nurses, are women. This essentially means that they are at the forefront of the pandemic, while men have retreated to quarantine.

Section #3: Summary of Findings from Investigative Step #1

The original author of Young’s article concerning this controversial topic was published as per the provisions of a Global Health Oversight agency‘s data, gathered from Wuhan, China, the first place where the pandemic hit hard. According to this source, 64 percent of the people who succumbed to the virus were male. This source goes ahead to confirm the fact that the same patterns have been seen in Italy and the US. On the other hand, the source of Hutt’s article is a reputable Chinese News Agency that confirmed the fact that at least 3000 health workers who were in the frontline got infected by the disease, and a majority of these victims were female.

Section #4: Summary of Findings from Investigate Step #2

In Young’s article, Young uses credible language that shows an absence of bias. With a very assertive tone, Young states that it is without a doubt that there is a definite trend that proves that the fatality rate of men is way higher than that of women in almost every country where this pandemic has hit. Citing tangible and credible statistics that can be validated by anyone. In the article, it is clear that Young avoids opinions and, instead, shows factual content. Therefore, it is inherently right to gainsay the fact that Young’s article is bias-free. Hutt, on the other hand, bases most of her arguments on sources that are heavily reliant on opinions. It is tough to gauge the gender disparity in healthcare given that in times like this, the services of a variety of healthcare workers are not strictly restricted to nurses and MD. Therefore, there are various questionable aspects of Young’s article that introduces bias.

Section #5: Summary of Findings from Investigative Step #3

Fact check number one: The fatality rate of men in Wuhan stood at 64 percent. This is about the information published by a Global Health Agency.

Fact check number two: There is a similar trend in the mortality rate of men in some of the pandemic’s epicenters other than China, including Italy, the UK, and the USA.

Fact check number three: No source confirms that the majority of frontline healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19 are women, as reported in a reputable Chinese Media Outlet.

Section #6: Summary of the Findings from Investigative Step #1

About the information published by a Global Health Agency, it is right to say that Young’s article is credible since it acknowledges its findings from a source that got its data from a primary source of information. On the other hand, Hutt’s article referred to a cause that got its data from a primary source of information but went ahead to give information that is based on assumptions and facts.

Section #7: Summary of the Findings from Investigate Step #2

The fatality rate of men is way higher than that of women in almost every country where this pandemic has hit, citing tangible and credible statistics that can be validated by anyone. In the article, it is clear that Young avoids opinions and, instead, shows factual content. Therefore, it is inherently right to gainsay the fact that Young’s article is bias-free. Hutt, on the other hand, bases most of her arguments on sources that are heavily reliant on opinions.

Section #8: Summary of the Findings from Investigative Step #3

It is crystal clear that the fatality rate of men in Wuhan stood at 64 percent. The article links to a credible source that can be verified to ascertain that indeed men succumb more than women during this COVID-19 pandemic. Hutt’s report, on the other hand, uses assumptions to assert that women are the most likely hit by this pandemic, given that they are in the frontline. The frontline is an ambiguous term in this regard since it fails to include other job categories like truck drivers, delivery people, and factory workers who still go to work, risking getting infected by the COVID-19.

Works Cited

Hutt, Rosamund. “The Coronavirus Fallout May Be Worse for Women Than Men. Here’s Why.” World Economic Forum, 12 Mar. 2020, www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/the-coronavirus-fallout-may-be-worse-for-women-than-men-heres-why/.

Young, Annette. “Coronavirus: Why Do More Men Die of Covid-19 Than Women?” France 24, 31 Mar. 2020, www.france24.com/en/20200331-coronavirus-why-do-more-men-die-of-covid-19-than-women.