No Subject

[Steven, Dapra]

July 8



	Jerry Cohen wrote:



	"In a democracy, officials must make decisions that address and satisfy

public concerns, if they wish to remain their official capacity. It doesn't

matter whether these concerns are scientifically rational or not.

Unfortunately, a scientifically illiterate media plays a major role in

formulating public opinion. That's the problem!"



	I think the problem is more one of an ideologically motivated news media

than a scientifically illiterate news media.  With its vast wealth the

popular press could probably find some competent consultants somewhere from

whom to obtain advice and sound science.



	Perhaps they could try contacting the Health Physics Society or the

American Nuclear Society.



	For a scholarly and systematic treatment of the bias of the popular press

see "Environmental Cancer -- A Political Disease?" by S. Robert Lichter and

Stanley Rothman (Yale University, 1999), especially chapter five ("Media

Coverage of Environmental Cancer").  The leftist bias of the popular bias

may not be well-known, but is certainly well-established.



Steven Dapra

sjd@swcp.com







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