Re: Media Misinformation

[Randall_F_Brich@RL.gov]

Fools curse the wind; wise men adjust their sails.

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Media Misinformation
Author:  xat@inel.gov (Alden Tschaeche) at -MailLink
Date:    2/6/97 2:26 PM


Sandy Perle's new news service turned up an interesting story about a 
Palisades Nuclear Power plant worker who was reported by the UPI news 
service to be "recovering after falling into a pit of spent nuclear 
fuel."  Further, the article said: "Plant spokesman Mark Savage said 
Thursday that Cossey's protective jumpsuit apparently saved him from 
radiation exposure."  
     
I called Mark and he said that he had said no such thing.  Mark sent me 
a copy of the Palisades press release that read as follows: "WORKER 
INJURED IN CASK WASHDOWN PIT AREA   At 1:50 p.m. this afternoon, Billy 
Cossey and a tem of HP technicians were decontaminating the cask 
washdown pit area near the spent fuel pool.  Billy was on a ladder in 
the pit and apparently slipped and fell.  He was able to climb up the 
ladder to receive medical attention.  
Plant EMTs assisted in the medical call, preparing Cossey for the Covert 
Ambulance as a potentially contaminated, injured worker.  
The full extent of his injuries are still being determined by hospital 
staff.  Initial examinations at the hospital revealed that Billy was not 
seriously injured and was conscious during the entire time.
A plant accident investigation has been started.  We will keep you 
informed of any further developments." Tom Palmisano, Plant General 
Manager.
     
The local paper, the Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph, Michigan got the 
story much more correctly than UPI.
     
I called the UPI reporter who wrote the story.  He said that there would 
be a follow-on correcting the details.  When I attempted to discuss the 
matter with him, he clearly didn't want to talk about it.  Nor, I'm 
afraid will his follow-on help much.  However, he knows now that there 
are some of us out there who care about the truth and will not stand for 
dishonesty in reporting.  If, every time one of us sees a strange 
looking story, we find out the truth and complain to those who have 
generated that story, and at least try to get them to understand the 
facts, we might have a little more chance at educating the public.
Al Tschaeche xat@inel.gov
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From: xat@inel.gov (Alden Tschaeche)
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Subject: Media Misinformation
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