I have been watching this discussion with interest. And after this last
message feel I have to point out that if you are going to make any kind of
criticism etc (which is of course healthy and should not be prevented) then
you should be clear on who exactly you are talking about, what you are
criticising them of and your evidence for doing so. Sly sideways remarks
are not helpful - the list is here to air views but they must be clear and
backed up with evidence - otherwise there is no real discussion just gossip.
I have no idea what you are accusing who of in this mail Bill! What worst
fears and about who? I have also yet to see any evidence what so ever of
the criticisms being made of the SMC and by that I mean the current work of
the SMC not the past activities of any one associated with it. Despite Bob
pressing this point. Sallie Robins
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill O'Neill
Sent: 26 April 2007 10:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] The Great Global Warming Swindle
such pontification has confirmed my worst fears abt much and many
linked to the media centre... thanks for that at least
============================================
Original Message
It is apparent that you do not have the decency to withdraw your nasty
little smear and that the lack of evidence to substantiate your claims makes
no difference to your views. Lest anybody on this list believes your
falsehoods about the Science Media Centre, I am bound to point out that the
following people are members of its board:
Kenny Campbell
Editor, Metro
Dr Philip Campbell
Editor-in-Chief, Nature
Clive Cookson
Science Editor, Financial Times
Dr Peter Cotgreave
Director, Campaign for Science & Engineering in the UK
Carolan Davidge
Director of Press & PR, Cancer Research UK
Mike Granatt CB FIPR
Partner, Luther Pendragon and former Director General of Goverment
Information and Communication Service
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge FRS
Head of Developmental Genetics, MRC National Institute for Medical Research
Tom Miller
Director of Communications, Imperial College London and STEMPRA committee
member
Rebecca Morelle
Science and Nature reporter, BBC News Online
Vivienne Parry
Writer, broadcaster and journalist
Simon Pearson
Night Editor, The Times
Dr Simon Singh
Science writer and broadcaster
Adrian Van Klaveren
Deputy Director, BBC News
Bob Ward
Director of Global Science Networks, Risk Management Solutions Ltd
Alan Winter
Head of Operations, Royal Institution of Great Britain
It is just not credible to claim that we are all part of a "political lobby
organisation". And I suspect that the many journalists who seek help from
the SMC everyday might have found out if it was up to anything other than
providing a first-class service to both the science community and the media.
As for your criticism of the joint letter about 'The Great Global Warming
Swindle', I really wish you would not misrepresent it as an attempt at
censorship. It seeks the correction of misrepresentations of the science,
which, as the following news story indicates, even Martin Durkin has started
to accept: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/313162_global26.html
Bob Ward
Director, Global Science Networks
Risk Management Solutions Ltd
Peninsular House
30 Monument Street
London
EC3R 8NB
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7444 7741
Blackberry +44 (0) 7710 333687
www.rms.com
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Francis Sedgemore
Sent: 25 April 2007 22:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] The Great Global Warming Swindle
Apart from answering an off-list email response to my earlier contribution,
I've been out of action for most of the day owing to a copy deadline.
However, this evening I've put together 1700 words on the subject, and
posted them here:
http://skysong.eu/2007/04/science-advocacy-and-political-lobbying/
Michael Kenward - yes, you're right about the corporate nature of C4.
Silly me. You're also right about sensationalist headlines dreamt up by
subeditors - a most peculiar sub-species. On a few occasions I've had cause
to curse Guardian Unlimited subs. On the other hand, they occasionally come
up with some absolute gems (although the creator of the recent "CAMERON
FINGERED OVER DYKE" should hang his head in shame!).
The SMC describes itself as an independent media agency working to promote
the voices, stories and views of the scientific community.
That may be part of it, but the SMC is also a political lobby organisation,
and Fox has used it to launch some pretty nasty attacks on her political
opponents.
My mistake today was to not focus exclusively on criticising the open letter
to Durkin, and its calls for what can only be described as censorship. For
that I accept Michael K's admonition. But to be honest I just couldn't help
it. I was so struck by the irony of those who claim that climate-change is
due to human influence failing to see that the object of their opprobrium
and some of their science media allies are political bedfellows. And the
politics in question are truly bizarre.
There may have been, and still be, some respectable human beings involved
with the SMC, but the evidence is overwhelming regarding the true agenda of
those pulling the strings. That evidence is, as has been pointed out here,
in the public domain.
The SMC is, through some of its personnel, directly connected with the other
organisations on the list questioned by Michael K.
Francis
On 25 Apr 07, at 18:35, Michael Kenward wrote:
> Never judge a story by its headline.
>
> Even the author of the story gets pissed off by that sort of thing.
> And they
> will not see it before they get their own copy of the paper.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _
> Michael Kenward OBE / Phone: +44 (0)1444
> 401064
> /
> Science Writer & Stuff / My other computer is a slide
> rule
--
Dr Francis Sedgemore
Freelance journalist and science writer
tlf: +44.7840191336; web: http://skysong.eu
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