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Mike - I note that you posted this on Psci com  - do you think ABSW colleagues would have a different take on this? (you ask 'em - it's your opinion)

There are two issues:

One - should scientists aid PR companies and similar in starting stories from scratch with pre-determined surveys and call them "science" - which doesn't seem to be a tabloid issue (gone - along with Roger - are the days when the Telegraph (allegedly) banned  "stunt science" releases from certain organisations).

Two - if you have a genuine news story should you tell the tabloids? If its a genuine story and it's covered elsewhere you've then just got a load of pissed off tabloid hacks wanting to know why they aren't good enough for you - and - if they've an editor breathing down their neck - determined to come up with some sort of story anyhow.

Two - subpara one - as Mary rightly says - there are some stories you actively want to solicit tabloid involvement with because they've got the reader profile you need.

Given that it was the Telegraph who printed the story that started this correspondence and that the Sunday Times view on the causes of AIDs was for a long time scandalously misguided, I think you should be advising them not to talk to journalists at all. 

Is Sir Walter Bodmer out there somewhere? - I think we need a report....


Cheers - Dianne


Dianne Stilwell
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On 3 Mar 2009, at 18:28, Michael Kenward wrote:

When I talk to scientists about working with the media, as I did last
Thursday at Sussex, I deter them from talking to the tabloids. They arrive
with an agenda that cannot really accommodate "proper" or even improper
science.

MK


-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Newson, Lesley
Sent: 3 March 2009 15:37
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Shopping study?! Yes it is unethical

The policy of encouraging academics to explain their work to the public is
well established.  Is it perhaps time we discussed the value of a policy to
DIScourage academics from seeking to publish in the Daily Express nonsense
that is dressed as science.

I would like to hear David Holmes' side of the story - and the opinion of
the institution that employs him.  I once had a colleague that got lots of
press interest on the basis of something he just mentioned in passing to a
journalist and the journalist made it into something huge.  My colleague was
very embarrassed and we all felt sorry for him.

I hope that David Holmes feels embarrassed.  If he does not, we should help
him to feel embarrassed.

Lesley

________________________________________
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jon Turney [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 03 March 2009 11:20
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Shopping study?! Yes it is unethical

" I do think it's harsh to dig out completely unrelated news stories from 5
years ago to try and discredit a guy who is not online to defend himself ...
think that's a bit below the belt."

although, (sociology alert) this is why reputational currency is hard to
maintain when everything you (or I) have ever said is available forever on
the net.

The Facebook generation may not care about this, some say. I find it, er,
sobering.





-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
Of Chris Stokes
Sent: 03 March 2009 10:46
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Shopping study?! Yes it is unethical

His theory on how the mistaken belief that mice love cheese got a grip is
pure genius. And he got that into a Scientific American podcast
00FF), the Times Higher
e=26), the Mail
eveals.html) and plenty of other discerning publications, no doubt. The
research behind his theory was sponsored by the Stilton Cheesemakers'
Association.

He's named too in 'research' done by the bed company, Silentnight
has this proved?:

'As well as doing more work in bed, due to wireless communication, we could
definitely see beds taking up residence in our offices. Larger purpose built
beds may allow less intimidating and tiring versions of meetings. Horizontal
meetings with ceiling projectors could even give birth to lateral
conferencing, where comfort and clandestine snoozes may improve attendance
and stamina.'

Interesting that as a psychologist specializing in 'social relationships',
among many other things, he wasn't able to diagnose himself, though, before
this:
ime_shrink.html.

None of this, though, does anything to exonerate journalism, unless all
other academic psychologists simply refuse to talk to the media, which
strikes me as a smidgeon unlikely.

Chris

________________________________

From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
Of Michael Kenward
Sent: 03 March 2009 10:10
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Shopping study?! Yes it is unethical



It is interesting to see so many knees jerking in the direction of the
journalist's groin.



I will let you all into a secret, there are academics out there who delight
in, and seek out, this sort of media coverage.



Unfortunately, his on-line CV seems to be a good five years out of date. (He
refers, in terms that are themselves dubious, to the "Foresight Cyber Trust
and Crime Prevention Project Workshop" in January 2004.) But it does show a
fair involvement with the media:



m



David Holmes is hardly a  "media virgin" picked over by a venal press.
Interestingly, this "work" seems to be outside of his normal area of
expertise:








_______________________________

Michael Kenward OBE

Have words will travel









From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
Of Ian Jones
Sent: 3 March 2009 09:03
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Shopping study?! Yes it is unethical



Yes, it is a shoddy piece of work. (Not sure that it is unethical though.)

Two things are worth pointing out:

- neither piece seems to have been written by a science correspondent

- before we get too outraged, it's worth checking out Dr Holmes's website
tm). The man is clearly no stranger to engagement with the media.

Ian Jones
Isinglass Consultancy Ltd



2009/3/2 Newson, Lesley

American colleagues often look enviously at Europe because there is a
greater acceptance of Darwinism in Europe.  But I sometimes think that I
would be healthier if people rejected evolution rather than swallow this
kind of nonsense.

I hope that David Holmes of Manchester Metropolitan University is
complaining like mad about this.

Lesley
________________________________________
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
Sent: 02 March 2009 20:41
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Shopping study?!

Is it just me or is this really bad, if not unethical science journalism:

hrowback-to-days-of-cavewomen.html

Apparently Neanderthals are our ancestors
(cavemen=Neanderthals=ancestors?!), and an anonymous 'study' funded by a
mall (!) was originally reported by:




Mico

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