I just opened my Sunday NYT to see a full page ad from @SmithfieldFoods accusing its “critics” (e.g. the press, at least in part) of spreading “false narratives,” “misinformation,” and “disinformation” about its Covid-19 response. I have, unsurprisingly, some thoughts on that.

By my count, at least 2,024 Smithfield workers have contracted Covid-19 since the pandemic began. At least 6 have died. These are both certainly undercounts, as Smithfield and states with major Smithfield plants have declined to share recent data.

When I have asked Smithfield to respond to detailed questions about how many of its workers have been sickened and died, the company has responded with generic answers or not at all.

When I have asked Smithfield to discuss its testing and reporting protocol, the company has also responded with generic answers or not at all.

In this ad, Smithfield says it has 42,000 “team members.” So, nearly 5 percent of the company has contracted a potentially life-threatening virus in the course of their work. That is simply a fact, and one well worthy of investigation.

Characterizing media investigation of Smithfield’s Covid-19 response as “accusations fueled by misinformation” is incredibly dangerous in our news environment, and during this pandemic, when so many of us are struggling to interpret a flood of news, science, and data each day.

And to allege that reporters like me, and the many others who have been tirelessly covering this issue for months, are doing so to “[garner] viewers and clicks” is to position the media’s interests as opposed to the interests of our readers, the public. Also very dangerous.