Information in society (continuation)

Pursuant to my previous posting, I would like to draw attention to another article by Transparency International Slovakia director Gabriel Šipoš, who frequently publishes his excellent analyses in his "Slovak Press Watch" blog. The example, which he highlights, demonstrates the underlying risks of disinformation followed by incompetent journalism. The whole thing is in fact too bizarre to believe, but I found it worthwhile to expose.

In short, Mr Šipoš points out how during a press conference the Slovak Minister of Health states a wrong picture. When being asked by the reporter of TV-JOJ, to explain why prices of medicaments have risen by 5.1% compared to the previous year (the number was taken from the Slovak Statistical Office) the Minister answered as follows: 

"A very good question. Since the index of consumer goods which are falling under healthcare deals with purchases, especially those done in a drug-store. We know that the number of drug-stores has doubled... This given is not correct, as it has nothing in common with many commodities, since in these shopping-baskets, which we call healthcare, we will find toothbrushes, pastes, facial masks, with permission: contraceptives and lubrication gels. In short, those are items, which people buy specifically because there are more of these drug-stores... You can see these commodities. There is this cranberries concoction or... This has nothing to do with healthcare. That would mean that everybody, who buys a toothbrush or paste is considered a patient. In other words, the increase is caused by the fact that the freely sold commodities have increased, but in reality are not medications, which are prescribed. It has nothing to do with the healthcare system. Either it is necessary to re-classify it in such a way that this data is not confusing..."

No, there is really nothing wrong with my translation. This is indeed literally what the Minister said. Does it make any sense...? I don't think so - at least not to me. If anybody can find a reasonable coherence, please write me.

Now a little insight. According to the reports of the Statistical Office, there are 4 classes of items; medication on prescription, medication without, pharmaceutical products and other health products. While the latter two showed a decrease of respectively 0.9% and 5%, the items falling under prescribed medication increased by 5.9% and those without prescription had an increase of no less than 9%. The reporter involved blindly quoted the Minister's explanation (taking it for face-value truth) without verifying the validity.

First of all, the mere unconvincing explanation of the Minister itself (let's call it highly clumsy and purely unprofessional) should cause a journalist/reporter to become suspicious and double check. It should be expected to inform the public, what was said and whether correct according to reality. Failing to do so, makes the journalist highly unprofessional as well - to put it diplomatically. In my amazement, seeing the seriousness of this mistake, I would prefer a more harsh expression, but I am afraid my late grandmother would not approve of such language.

This way, Slovakia's public shall remain erring in misty disinformation, hardly realising what really goes on. Herewith a warm tribute to Transparency International Slovakia for their professional analyses of current trends in the media.

To conclude this post just a little quiz-question for the readers: can you guess, why the present leaders are not much in favour of the said organisation? I don't think it's too hard to find that out...

MS

Pursuant to my previous posting, I would like to draw attention to another article by Transparency International Slovakia director Gabriel Šipoš, who frequently publishes his excellent analyses in his "Slovak Press Watch" blog. The example, which he highlights, demonstrates the underlying risks of disinformation followed by incompetent journalism. The whole thing is in fact too bizarre to believe, but I found it worthwhile to expose. In short, Mr Šipoš points out how during a press conference the Slovak Minister of Health states a wrong picture. When being asked by the reporter of TV-JOJ, to explain why prices of medicaments have risen by 5.1% compared to the previous year. The number was taken from the Slovak Statistical Office. The Minister answered as follows (and I shall literally translate the transcript): "A very good question. Since the index of consumer goods which are falling under healthcare deals with purchases, especially those done in a drug-store. We know that the number of drug-stores has doubled... This given is not correct, as it has nothing in common with many commodities, since in these shopping-baskets, which we call healthcare, we will find toothbrushes, pastes, facial masks, with permission: contraceptives and lubrication gels. In short, those are items, which people buy specifically because there are more of these drug-stores... You can see these commodities. There is this cranberries concoction or... This has nothing to do with healthcare. That would mean that everybody, who buys a toothbrush or paste is considered a patient. In other words, the increase is caused by the fact that the freely sold commodities have increased, but in reality are not medications, which are prescribed. It has nothing to do with the healthcare system. Either it is necessary to re-classify it in such a way that this data is not confusing..." No, there is really nothing wrong with my translation. This is indeed, what the Minister said. Does it make any sense... I don't think so - at least not to me. Now a little insight. According to the reports of the Statistical Office, there are 4 classes of items; medication on prescription, medication without, pharmaceutical products and other health products. While the latter two showed a decrease of respectively 0.9% and 5%, the items falling under prescribed medication increased by 5.9% and those without prescription had an increase of no less than 9%. The reporter involved blindly quoted the Minister's explanation (taking it for face-value truth) without verifying the validity. First of all, the mere unconvincing explanation of the Minister itself (let's call it highly clumsy and purely unprofessional) should cause a journalist/reporter to become suspicious and double check. It should be expected to inform the public, what was said and whether correct according to reality. Failing to do so, makes the journalist highly unprofessional as well - to put it diplomatically. In my amazement, seeing the seriousness of this mistake, I would prefer a more harsh expression, but I am afraid my late grandmother would not approve of such language. This way, Slovakia's public shall remain erring in misty disinformation, hardly realising what really goes on. Herewith a warm tribute to Transparency International Slovakia. A little quiz-question for the readers: can you guess, why the present leaders are not much in favour of the said organisation? MS

Pursuant to my previous posting, I would like to draw attention to another article by Transparency International Slovakia director Gabriel Šipoš, who frequently publishes his excellent analyses in his "Slovak Press Watch" blog. The example, which he highlights, demonstrates the underlying risks of disinformation followed by incompetent journalism. The whole thing is in fact too bizarre to believe, but I found it worthwhile to expose. In short, Mr Šipoš points out how during a press conference the Slovak Minister of Health states a wrong picture. When being asked by the reporter of TV-JOJ, to explain why prices of medicaments have risen by 5.1% compared to the previous year. The number was taken from the Slovak Statistical Office. The Minister answered as follows (and I shall literally translate the transcript): "A very good question. Since the index of consumer goods which are falling under healthcare deals with purchases, especially those done in a drug-store. We know that the number of drug-stores has doubled... This given is not correct, as it has nothing in common with many commodities, since in these shopping-baskets, which we call healthcare, we will find toothbrushes, pastes, facial masks, with permission: contraceptives and lubrication gels. In short, those are items, which people buy specifically because there are more of these drug-stores... You can see these commodities. There is this cranberries concoction or... This has nothing to do with healthcare. That would mean that everybody, who buys a toothbrush or paste is considered a patient. In other words, the increase is caused by the fact that the freely sold commodities have increased, but in reality are not medications, which are prescribed. It has nothing to do with the healthcare system. Either it is necessary to re-classify it in such a way that this data is not confusing..." No, there is really nothing wrong with my translation. This is indeed, what the Minister said. Does it make any sense... I don't think so - at least not to me. Now a little insight. According to the reports of the Statistical Office, there are 4 classes of items; medication on prescription, medication without, pharmaceutical products and other health products. While the latter two showed a decrease of respectively 0.9% and 5%, the items falling under prescribed medication increased by 5.9% and those without prescription had an increase of no less than 9%. The reporter involved blindly quoted the Minister's explanation (taking it for face-value truth) without verifying the validity. First of all, the mere unconvincing explanation of the Minister itself (let's call it highly clumsy and purely unprofessional) should cause a journalist/reporter to become suspicious and double check. It should be expected to inform the public, what was said and whether correct according to reality. Failing to do so, makes the journalist highly unprofessional as well - to put it diplomatically. In my amazement, seeing the seriousness of this mistake, I would prefer a more harsh expression, but I am afraid my late grandmother would not approve of such language. This way, Slovakia's public shall remain erring in misty disinformation, hardly realising what really goes on. Herewith a warm tribute to Transparency International Slovakia. A little quiz-question for the readers: can you guess, why the present leaders are not much in favour of the said organisation? MS