Fox News peddles fabricated Ezike quote
Wednesday, Sep 1, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Fox News Channel…
The Illinois Department of Health director allegedly recently said that “masks are as effective as vaccines” amid a push to crack down on mask wearing in schools.
“If we actually want our kids to be in school for in-person learning, masking is a great protection and our best bet,” Dr. Ngozi Ezike said last Thursday, according to Chalkbeat. “The bottom line is that masks are as effective as vaccines are.”
That last sentence is a totally fabricated quote.
* Here’s what she said…
“If we actually want our kids to be in school for in-person learning, masking is a great protection and our best bet,” Ezike said Thursday. “The bottom line is that masks are effective. Vaccines are effective.”
* Instead of, you know, spending a few seconds actually reading the Chalkbeat story, Fox News just took this person’s word for it…
Ridiculous.
…Adding… Fox News has now updated its story…
The Illinois Department of Public Health later told Fox News Wednesday that Ezike was inaccurately quoted in the Chalkbeat article, and had actually said during a press conference last Thursday: “If we actually want our kids to be in school for in-person learning, masking is a great protection and our best bet. The bottom line is masks are effective. Vaccines are effective.”
The original quote, however, ignited criticisms on social media this week, with one Twitter user saying, “If the goal is to increase vax uptake — and we know both Illinois & Chicago, uptake is lowest among Black & Latinx residents — Dr Ezike’s statement is at-odds with equity goals.”
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:11 pm:
Here’s a reminder that Twitter now allows you to report a tweet because it contains COVID-19 misinformation. “Woodhouse” needs to get deplatformed and exposed as who they actually are. This act as a state-level Alex Berenson is dangerous garbage.
- Glengarry - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:13 pm:
Woodhouse is in timeout for her misinformation. Need to get her banned permanently.
- Creature8 - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:14 pm:
Woodhouse got a 7 day suspension for it. Har har.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:18 pm:
The quote should have been checked and reported correctly by Fox. However, she used the same word to describe both vaccines and masks. Without further elaboration distinguishing the two from one another, equivalence can be assumed. It may not have been her intent, but words mean things and should be chosen more carefully.
- Grimlock - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:24 pm:
Captain Obvious - would you agree that condoms and abstinence are both effective? Do you think anyone would say that means they are equally effective?
- Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:26 pm:
@captain obvious: I think its obvious what Dr. Ezike’s meaning is. Masks are effective. Vaccines are effective. She obviously did not say that masks are as effective as vaccines. It’s pretty obvious this was intended by the right wing to create fake news, which they are obviously good at.
- What's in a name? - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:30 pm:
@Captain Obvious
“equivalence can be assumed.” Remember the old line about “when you assume”; its spot on here.
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
Would Fox News viewers even care if they found out how consistently they are lied to?
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
=== “words mean things” ===
So do quotation marks, and Emma “Let Me Entertain You” Woodhouse used quotation marks indicating she was quoting Ezike, which was a lie.
Instead of admitting she lied, you are offering excuses for her lying.
Emma “My husband is an Executive Chef” Woodhouse is no amateur at Twitter and new exactly what she was doing.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:34 pm:
People are surprised by this? Generally when Murdoch Inc. acquires a media operation, the first thing they do to reduce costs? Reduce / eliminate fact checkers. First thing they did at National Geographic.
- charles in charge - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:36 pm:
==Without further elaboration distinguishing the two from one another, equivalence can be assumed.==
Huh?! Where did you even come up with that?
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
Fact checkers are for news operations. Fox is in the entertainment business. It’s not that they can’t afford fact checkers, they have no use for them.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
“Fox News peddles”
The other day Tucker Carlson had a guest who said COVID natural immunity is better than a vaccine—in other words, get sick, risk going to the hospital/ICU or pass away rather than get vaccinated. It’s one thing for so-called gullible rubes to believe in deadly disinformation, but in terms of evil it’s quite another for media networks and politicians to push it. They ought to know better.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
Fox News (national) said over the weekend that President Biden skipped the ceremony honoring the fallen Marines in Dover and also added the lie that the U.S. left behind trained military dogs in Afghanistan.
This is what they do: they lie, distort and misinform to inflame their audience and keep them glued to the channel so they can sell them cheap junk.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 3:52 pm:
Dr. Ezike has really been a huge plus in dealing with Covid 19 Illinois.
Somebody owes her an apology.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 4:07 pm:
FoxNews “But that’s what she meant.”
- Jibba - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 4:19 pm:
===natural immunity is better than a vaccine—in other words, get sick, risk going to the hospital/ICU or pass away rather than get vaccinated===
In order to prevent yourself from getting covid? That makes a lot of (non)sense.
- Keeping Track - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 4:29 pm:
So… “Emma Woodhouse” from the Jane Austin novel now has a Twitter account? Amazing.
- DEE - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 4:37 pm:
–Critics rip Illinois Health Dept director over misquote alleging ‘masks are as effective as vaccines’–
1)This is the headline to their news story. Why not just have all headlines ‘Many (or Lots of) people are saying…’
2)-rip…director over misquote-
they are ripping the director over what person’s misquote, Emma’s?
- Veggieh8 - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 4:42 pm:
@Keeping Track
Lol she is a education consultant who dabbles as a ‘covid expert’
- Unconventional wisdom - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 5:37 pm:
Good that this misquote was called out. This needs to be done at all times on such important issues and it should be done consistently in a non partisan manner.
- Lou Redwood - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 5:43 pm:
If you want to be fictional reader, go to Foxnews. Enough said.