[ RadSafe ] RDD's and the news media. (RadSafe Digest, Vol 541, Issue 1)

[Derek Putley]

Jerry and Harry
 
I sympathise with your observations on the press and media. Over here we have a saying that the first rule of journalism is to never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Message: 6 Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:57:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Jerry Cohen jjc105 at yahoo.com 
   Unfortunately, the public will believe almost anything the news media 
conditions them to believe. Sensational stories attract attention, thereby 
selling newspapers, increasing viewer/listener ratings and generally improving 
profits. Having been initially scared, the frightening images will be retained 
by the public regardless of any facts subsequently brought to light. Many people 
still believe that the TMI accident caused thousands of deaths.
I have a theory that there is an unwritten policy in journalism schools that any 
student who displays an understanding of science and technology is not allowed 
to graduate. If my theory is correct, it would certainly account for a lot of 
what we have been observing.

Jerry Cohen 

Message: 7 Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:07:35 -0700
From: "Harry Reynolds" hreynolds at energysolutions.com 

I sent the message below to Geraldo Rivera and FOX News in response to
their coverage of the attempted Times Square bombing last year.  I got
no response or even acknowledgement. I guess that is their idea of "Fair
and Balanced".

"While watching your At Large coverage of the attempted Times Square
bombing, I saw your "expert" KT McFarland state that "...if a bomb
contained 'fissile' material the entire area would be uninhabitable for
(some ridiculously long number of) years.  This kind of nonsense and
misinformation contributes to the public misconceptions and ignorance on
all things nuclear and radiological. 

First, no knowledgeable person wanting to develop an effective "dirty
bomb" would use fissile material.  Second, any area impacted would only
be uninhabitable until a Hazmat crew cleaned it up- a matter of hours to
days at most.  

Harry Reynolds
Health Physicist"


Harry Reynolds
ASRSO
ENERGYSOLUTIONS
 
 
Best Regards

Derek Putley

Technical Area Lead (Criticality) 
 
Serco (Technical Services)
Thomson House, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6GA, UK



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