The Grauniad has an editorial on climate change. commencing with these words:
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It is the mantra of the courtroom, but it is also the motivating ideal of good science – as well as good journalism."
So how come the national press faithfully 'parroted' the climate change, global warming mantra with a journalistic style that amounted to no more than a 'cut & paste' job? If 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth' is the motivating ideal of good journalism, why no attempt to discover if what was being told, was in fact correct?
4 comments:
One should always be careful about taking anything said by the national press about any branch of science at face value.
Consider this cartoon...
Quite right Knirirr. The only interest of the media is hype and circulation. Facts and rational analysis have given way to cut and paste journalism by bored hacks.
The only interest of the media is hype and circulation.
Indeed, and that's the problem.
A scientist, if questioned on their speciality, will usually give an answer with various caveats and restrictions the subtlety of which does not help make an exciting and simple story.
I hope that our host will excuse me for linking to my favourite example again.
Knirirr,
Feel free dear chap!
Actually that is why as a child I found science so bloody boring - there were too many 'ifs', 'buts' and 'maybes'!
Post a Comment