In a rush to win the ‘breaking news’ game, Pakistani media channel Dawn News just killed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson which they mistakenly took from a fake BBC account on Twitter with just a handful of followers.
Boris Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London with persistent symptoms of COVID-19 on Sunday. The doctors moved him to intensive care on Monday after his symptoms worsened.
While the world was praying for his speedy recovery, Dawn News on Tuesday suddenly ran news of his death and people were shocked. Several Twitter users have been calling out the news channel for being so rush that they failed to confirm the news.
Such a reputed channel needs to be careful with their research process while breaking such news on a national TV. Especially when they are one of the most followed news channels of Pakistan. It was a basic common sense that an international platform like BBC can’t have very limited followers.
Soon, after realizing that something has gone wrong, it pulled the news down. But, the damage is done.
Twitter bashes Dawn News over the negligence
The fake news of Johnson’s death created confusion on social media. We also came across some interesting comments on the channel’s news disaster.
Dawn News TV aired a breaking news today that British Prime Minister #BorisJohnson passed away due to #Covid_19. They even quoted a fake BBC World account from Twitter which had hardly a few hundred followers. Smoking some next level shit. pic.twitter.com/J0BopcINB7
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) April 7, 2020
Hello @GOVUK & @foreignoffice
This Pakistani news channel @dawn_com is spreading a fake news of demise of Mr #BorisJohnson at 1442 PST.
You are requested to do us all a favor and sue this fake news factory. pic.twitter.com/efYjeQtXRL— ماما™ سپاہی (@teeepu_76) April 7, 2020
Credibility of DAWN journos can’t even authenticate a news or source of news before airing it. BBC world didn’t publish any such report!! @Xadeejournalist @ZarrarKhuhro pic.twitter.com/qxs5FGTaNb
— Nawab Shami (@fcukyuow) April 7, 2020
Dawn reporting about death of a Prime Minister from a fake account? This is the time for responsible reporting. pic.twitter.com/K0EwPtN0mE
— Fahad Malik (@Fahad4014) April 7, 2020
Stupidity level of Pakistani media
Dawn news and 92 News aired news ticker that PM Boris Johnson died of corona virus with a source of fake BBC twitter account. https://t.co/9dkOdAHHQv
— riaz (@RIAZLHE) April 7, 2020
On the other hand, the ‘real’ BBC said that Johnson is in good spirits after spending the night in intensive care.
In a statement on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesperson also confirmed, “The (UK) prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits. He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other assistance. He has not required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab running UK
Moreover, Johnson’s spokesperson also added, “The UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would chair meetings of the National Security Council if any was needed. Raab and the UK’s Cabinet have the authority and ability to respond in the PM’s absence on military action.”
“Raab is running the country from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the support of government officials, but cannot hire and fire ministers. Decisions relating to COVID-19 would be taken in the usual way through the daily morning meeting, chaired by Raab, and other ministerial groupings,” he added.
Royal Queen Elizabeth has been continuously informed about the health condition of the UK PM.
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