The role of the media in investigating the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic

Free media institutions are essential for informing the public and serving as a check on those in power — uncovering corruption and other malfeasance through investigative reporting, and elevating transparency in our governing processes. The media was perhaps even more important when the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, as it played a key role in disseminating public health information and shaping public perception.

One of the most important questions that arose in that context was related to the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which emerged in the city of Wuhan, China. Given the similar plausibility of either a natural spillover from an animal host or a research lab leak at the time the outbreak started, it is important to understand why many media outlets did not more broadly investigate the two origin hypotheses on an equal footing by following all available evidence.

On October 27, the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets will hold an event to examine the role of the media in investigating the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and draw important lessons for journalistic investigations of future crises to ensure independence and accountability in reporting. This event is part of a CRM workstream on biosafety regulation and pandemic prevention, which also included a recent event on “Building resilience: Enhancing biosafety, biosecurity, and pandemic preparedness.”

The event will feature a fireside chat with journalist Katherine Eban (Vanity Fair) who broke several major stories related to the origin of the pandemic, moderated by Alison Young who is the renowned author of a book on research lab accidents.

Following the fireside chat, Katherine Eban will join a panel of distinguished journalists who have reported on the origins question in different media outlets including Michael Gordon (The Wall Street Journal), Josh Rogin (The Washington Post), and Emily Kopp (The Daily Caller). Journalist and author Deborah Blum will moderate. 

Online viewers can pose questions in advance by emailing [email protected].