a mainstream message?

["Michael Stabin" <stabin@npd.ufpe.br>]

Ron K wrote:

> Seldom do the media they seek out and interview interview mainstream
> scientists in health physics and radiation biology; we are not good copy.
> The preferred people are those who are critical of the mainstream
scientific
> viewpoint, or who make dramatic and sweeping and sometimes unsupported
> assertions, often implying that those in the mainstream are less than
honest
> and ethical.  Compare, for example, the amount of coverage a critic such
> asJohn Gofman gets, or the amount of coverage Greenpeace gets vis a vis
the
> Health Physics Society on issues pertaining to radiation safety.

This statement was backed up by a _journalist_, actually a columnist, Ellen
Goodman, in a particularly insightful editorial some years back.  She
likened debate in the US today on any major issue to a group of people using
earplugs and megaphones, and said the best way to get hung up on if asked
for an interview by a media outlet was to say "Well, I can see both sides of
that issue..."  I don't think that embracing hyperbole should be our
strategy, but Ron is right that the sensible and reasonable voice is seldom
heard in today's media environment.  Controversy sells papers and makes 60
Minutes ratings shares; the truth is not always on the agenda, if it's
boring.


Michael Stabin, PhD, CHP
Departamento de Energia Nuclear/UFPE
Av. Prof. Luiz Freire, 1000 - Cidade Universitaria
CEP 50740 - 540
Recife - PE
Brazil
Phone 55-81-271-8251 or 8252 or 8253
Fax  55-81-271-8250
E-mail stabin@npd.ufpe.br


************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html