Re[4]: FW: News Media and How to Deceive

[Ruth Weiner <rfweine@sandia.gov>]

The problem is that one bad experience with the press or other media tends to 
wipe out the good experiences, because of the repercussions.  This has happened 
to me -- in one case with a reporter with whom I had had a long, pleasant, and 
productive relationship.  She essentially sandbagged me -- took quotes out of 
context, quoted people who said unpleasant and unfounded things about me, etc.  
This happened to me some years ago but I have quite literally been very hesitant
to have any contact with her.

Could the news media police itself with respect to this kind of interaction? 

Clearly only my own opinion

Ruth F. Weiner
rfweine@sandia.gov______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: FW: News Media and How to Deceive
Author:  RADPROJECT@aol.com at hubsmtp
Date:    8/20/98 9:30 AM


In a message dated 98-08-20 11:01:58 EDT, you write:
     
<< Subj:      Re: Re[2]: FW: News Media and How to Deceive
 Date:     98-08-20 11:01:58 EDT
 From:     Michael_Mokrzycki@ap.org (Michael Mokrzycki) 
 Sender:     radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
 Reply-to:     radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
 To:     radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu (Multiple recipients of list)
     
 I humbly submit that boycotting reporters would not be the most effective 
 way to educate them and get your point of view across in the general media.
  >>
     
I totally agree with the above comment. I also understand the frustration which 
underlies the initial post by Bob Scott recommending boycotting interactions 
with the media due to some horror stories in such interactions. However, 
failing to take the playing field to meet your opponent is a sure way to 
forfeit the game. This is the most certain way to destroy any prospects for 
radiation related technologies to ever get a fair evaluation and to meet the 
application they might satisfy.
     
I have dealt with dozens of print, TV, and radio reporters on various 
radiation related news stories and found most of them to be willing to tell an 
accurate story if you present them information in a manner which is 
interesting, understandable, and which stresses the self interest of risk- 
benefit understanding to the potentially affected public(s) related to the 
radiation risk factor under consideration.
     
Remember what John Paul Jones once said when asked by the British to surrender 
after the masts on his frigate had been shot out and defeat appeared certain:
     
                            "I have not yet begun to fight"
     
Stewart Farber, MS Public Health
Public Health Sciences
19 Stuart St.
Pawtucket, RI 02860
     
Phone/FAX: (401) 727-4947    E-mail: radproject@usa.net
     
     
     
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