Every day I see data suggesting that levels of compliance are consistently high (today a European analysis showing that the UK has one of the highest acceptance rates for being vaccinated). But every day I also see media headlines about acts of non-compliance (today, Kay Burley)

This is understandable - a juicy tale of violation trumps a dull tale of people staying at home and complying, and the joy of schadenfreude towards those who have been enforcing the rules then being caught out breaking the rules is hard to resist. But it raises a key question...

How can the media reconcile the need to entertain (and hence sell copy) and inform n the midst of a crisis, where accuracy is critically important. There is a real danger that by (falsely) hyping violation people start thinking 'why should I follow the rules when no-one else is'.

How can we get more stories which reflect what most people are doing. Moreover, how can we turn these from abstract statistics into concrete individual stories which move us and which stick in the mind. I remember one such story.

It was on Channel 4 News the same night as Cummings Rose Garden performance. A young black girl, about 8 years old. Her mum, a single parent, had COVID so the 8 year old had to look after the 3 year old, feeding her watered down baked beans because that was all they could afford.

It showed the crass inequalities which make it so difficult for so many to adhere. It showed that, despite that (as the polling showed) those suffering were still complying for the sake of their community. ...

and it showed that those privileged individuals who feel entitled to twist the rules to their own convenience are certainly not representative or portray the state of compliance in the nation. All credit to Channel 4 for showing truth and gripping stories are not at odds.

But the media as a whole must take their responsibilities seriously. An accurate and engaging picture of compliance is critical. It can be done. It must be done. It is, literally, matter of life and death.