Re: Suggestions? and MSC story to be on CBS- Misuse of language

["Franta, Jaroslav" <frantaj@aecl.ca>]

> Bernard L Cohen[SMTP:blc+@pitt.edu] wrote on Monday, January 10, 2000 1:49
> PM
> 
> 	A copy of the letter I sent to Reuters follows:
> 
> 							January 7, 2000
> Mr. Steven Jukes, Editor
> Reuters News Agency
> 1333 H St., NW
> Washington, DC
> 
> Dear Mr. Jukes:
> 	I am writing to point out a gross misrepresentation in a Reuters
> Dispatch from London, Dec. 31. It listed the 27 worst disasters of 1999,
> for each event giving the date and the number of deaths resulting. 
<snip>
<snip>
<snip>
> 	In summary, [the Sept. 30 nuclear accident in Tokaimura, Japan ] was
> an industrial accident that killed one worker and injured two others. How
> does this deserve being included on a list of the years worst disasters?
> Industrial accidents kill 1800 workers per year
> in Japan, and several times that number in U.S.. Why aren't these
> thousands of other accidents on your list?
> 
> Sincerely
> > 
> Bernard L. Cohen
> Physics Dept.
> University of Pittsburgh
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Comment:

Prof. Cohen's letter is much appreciated.

Journalists probably will not admit it, but I believe that one reason why
thousands of other industrial accident deaths didn't make it on to their
lists of the worst disasters of 1999 is the "curiosity" or "freak" factor
associated with nuclear accidents, however small they may be relative to
"real" disasters (which killed many people at once). 

One effective way to counter this pathological behavior may be by "fighting
fire with fire," ie. by keeping track of, and, at opportune moments,
pointing out other non-nuclear "freak" accidents in the recent past, to the
offending publication/program. 
Although radsafers may find this to be a somewhat macabre suggestion (I
think it is), it will likely enjoy a greater degree of "success" with media
editors/programmers and with the public, than simply presenting cold
statistics. (Who is it that said "numbers do not a news story make" ?)

Naturally, I have a current example, which appeared in today's Toronto Star,
but which, like other "minor" news stories, did not get posted on their web
site, nor is it likely to appear anywhere else (in sharp contrast to the
global coverage of the Tokaimura story):

Q U E B E C

Man killed by snowblower

ST-ALBAN * A 59-year-old man 
has died after being sucked into a 
giant snowblower. René
Grondines died Tuesday after his
clothing got caught in the ma-
chine's blade, which has a diame-
ter of about one metre. Police be-
lieve he was trying to clear some-
thing away from in front of the 
blade. His body was found later 
by his wife. The accident fol-
lowed the first major snowfall in
the region west of Quebec City.
=========================

Comments anyone ?

regards,

Jaro
frantaj@aecl.ca
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