Although the New York Times is undoubtedly a reliable news source, it is important to note that this is an opinion piece, and therefore cannot be compared to the same standards of truth as a traditional news claim. We can however, analyze the sources and evidence present in the text to determine where they fall on the scale of misinformation. Author Zeynep Tufecki, a NYT columnist and Princeton professor of sociology, focuses her argument on the H5N1 Avian Flu, a virus that while extremely rare in humans, is spreading in animals. She also cites Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is Donald Trump's selection to lead the Public Health Agency, as saying he "would not prioritize research or vaccine distribution were we to face another pandemic," a correct paraphrasing of Kennedy's views on vaccines as discussed in this interview with NBC News. Tufecki links to several other articles about avian flu, from the NYT and other sources, which provide alternate perspectives to her claim. So while the nature of an opinion piece prohibits it from being labeled as misinformation or not misinformation, Tufecki's argument is sourced by evidence which is verifiable and true.
