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RE: One day story
Radsafe Lads and Lasses:
We often bemoan conspiracy theories that have to do with things we know
about. In turn, we should be careful about ascribing conspiracy theories to
the media, which often appears to us as monolithic.
I sincerely doubt that the responsible media (as opposed to activists'
propaganda) conspire among themselves to make stories out of non-stories in
the face of facts to the contrary in order to sell newspapers or increase
ratings, although some of them may tend to sensationalize trivial matters. I
think they do this because they don't know better. I believe that the media
tries to do its best, as do all of us.
For a conspiracy to work, whether it is in Government, the Pentagon, or the
media, all conspirators must keep quiet about it. Do any Radsafers really
believe that aliens are imprisoned in Area 52? Has any reporter broken a
story about a media conspiracy to undo nuclear technology?
I think that reporters genuinely believe that they have a story here and
proceed accordingly. Keep in mind that the average reporter salary is
significantly less than that of the average professional and technical-level
health physicist and that reporters often have little scientific and
technical education and background.
It is up to those like us who have the scientific and technical background
to assist those who write for the media in telling its stories about science
and technology correctly and accurately. That is what they are writing:
stories, not scientific studies.
My training from public affairs experts and my personal experience tells me
that reporters rely on conflict to make their stories "interesting." For
every Naomi Harley they talk to about depleted uranium, they will try to
find a Doug Rokke for the opposite point of view. (I take them to task when
they don't go the other way.) They will write their stories as if both
sources have equal stature and credibility. The media will not change this
aspect of their profession because it is basic to it. Therefore, our only
recourse is to appear more credible about issues that have to do with our
profession than those with little professional standing who attack those
issues.
We have skills that reporters, in general, lack and they have skills that
we, in general, lack. Plus, they, not we, are the ones who get to tell the
stories to the public. We should be complementary, not adversarial.
All the above is IMO,
Bob C
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu] On Behalf Of Sandy Perle
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 8:55 AM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu; Stabin, Michael
Subject: Re: One day story
The media perpetuates these stories since it plays on the fears of
the public. Fear increases viewership, and ratings go up. Observe how
the media takes non-stories and continues to build them up with their
pundits, an d in so doing, they make the non-story a story.
It's all about playing off of fear and making money.
-------------------------------------
Sandy Perle
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc.
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614
Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714 Extension 2306
Fax:(949) 296-1902
E-Mail: sperle@dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/
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