Fox News (Shep Smith) Voice of Reason of Ebola

quote:

---

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is noted for being a levelheaded journalist who isn't afraid to take a moment to set things straight.

He took a few minutes Wednesday afternoon to lay out the facts about Ebola cases in the United States and address some misleading stories that have begun to circulate. It's well worth a watch.

While Smith is spot-on that people in the U.S. are relatively safe from the virus, it is also important to note that the situation in West Africa is getting worse. There may not be an outbreak in the U.S., but the World Health Organization warns that there could be 10,000 new cases per week in West Africa by December.

That escalation opens the door to serious geopolitical, macroeconomic and health consequences.

Later, Smith took issue with Fox News correspondent Doug McKelway's use of the phrase "widespread panic" to describe the national reaction to Ebola. Smith did mention the outbreak in Africa at that point, noting that there's no such outbreak in the U.S. "It's not worth ratings," he said.

---

quote:

---

"You should have no concerns about Ebola at all. None. I promise," stated Smith. He went on to tell viewers, "Do not listen to the hysterical voices on the radio and the television or read the fear-provoking words online. The people who say and write hysterical things are being very irresponsible."

He explained: "We do not have an outbreak of Ebola in the United States. Nowhere. We do have two healthcare workers who contracted the disease from a dying man. They are isolated. There is no information to suggest that the virus has spread to anyone in the general population in America. Not one person in the general population in the United States."

The Fox News host emphasized that political gamesmanship is skewing media coverage. "With midterm elections coming, the party in charge needs to appear to be effectively leading. The party out of power needs to show that there is a lack of leadership," said Smith.

Smith stressed, "I report to you with certainty this afternoon that being afraid at all is the wrong thing to do." He called media-stoked Ebola panic "counterproductive", saying that it "lacks basis in fact or reason."

He acknowledged that Ebola is a serious problem in West Africa, as well as for the victims and their families in Texas, but he pleaded with media outlets to stop fear-mongering about Ebola in the U.S.

"Someday there may be a real panic. Someday, something may start spreading that they can't control. And then, do you know what we're gonna have to do? We're gonna have to relax and listen to leaders. We're not gonna panic when we're supposed to and we're certainly not gonna panic now. We have to stop it."

---