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| Manipulating Research PBS Program 11/10/06 10 pm (ET) |
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JOURNALIST EXPOSES THOSE WHO MANIPULATE SCIENCE ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL INTERESTS ON AIR: AMERICA'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS
Science Fiction Premieres Friday, November 10 On PBS
When scientific studies are released, most laypeople take the word of the "experts" for granted and assume that the supporting data is legitimate. But one science reporter discovered evidence that suggests there is an entire industry built around spinning science for the purpose of confusing the public while benefiting Big Business. In the 11th installment of Thirteen/WNET New York's innovative weekly series, AIR: AMERICA'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, an investigative reporter takes on the practice of tailoring and manipulating research to fit the needs of industry groups. Narrated by award-winning broadcast journalist Sylvia Chase, Science Fiction premieres Friday, November 10 at 10 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).
Paul Thacker was not hired to do investigative reporting, but rather general news reporting for Environmental Science and Technology, a small industry trade publication. But then, he says, he came across junkscience.com, a Web site claiming to be dedicated to "All the junk that's fit to debunk." The site challenges scientific findings on hotbed issues such as global warming. Thacker looked into the background of "the Junkman" - site publisher Steven J. Milloy - and discovered ties to both the oil and tobacco industries. A further search, this time through the archives of tobacco-related lawsuits, revealed that Milloy was on the Philip Morris payroll as a science consultant at the same he was discrediting studies on the dangers of second-hand smoke in his role as a columnist for foxnews.com,
After publishing his findings on Milloy, Thacker investigated cases in which seemingly grassroots organizations promoted industry arguments on environmental issues. In an article called "Hidden Ties," he wrote about a group called Project Protect which appeared to be made up simply of concerned Oregon citizens. Project Protect advocated legislation promoting the cutting of trees to prevent forest fires - a position also promoted by the timber industry. As Thacker discovered through IRS documents, however, Project Protect was really a $2.9 million media campaign. "This 'grassroots' organization," he wrote, "has clear ties to timber corporations - an industry likely to benefit financially from legislative reforms."
Thacker's investigative reporting, he says, didn't please some of the people he worked for, and he soon found his career on the line. He says that a board member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), which publishes ES&T, objected to a story he wrote about the Weinberg Group, an international scientific and regulatory consulting firm specializing in, among other things, "product defense." Thacker's story examined a proposal made by the Weinberg Group to chemical giant DuPont - a detailed product-defense strategy regarding PFOA, a chemical DuPont uses in the production of Teflon. The letter arrived as DuPont was facing pressure from the EPA and a civil-action lawsuit by West Virginia residents who claimed to suffer serious health effects from exposure to PFOA. According to Thacker, the ACS board member suggested he was focused on "muckraking rather than reporting news," and was instructed to stop his investigative reporting.
He didn't. Several months later, he unearthed evidence that the White House tried to prevent scientists from speaking out about the link between climate change and the increasing strength of hurricanes. He says ES&T refused to allow him to follow the story, so he found a home for it at salon.com. Then, he says, he was fired from ES&T. In a written statement, an ACS representative told AIR, "...it is not the policy of the American Chemical Society to comment on conditions of individuals' employment or departure."
Funders for AIR: AMERICA'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS include Bernard and Irene Schwartz, Park Foundation, The Popplestone Foundation, The Jacob Burns Foundation, The Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation, Tracy and Eric Semler, and Scripps Howard Foundation.
AIR: AMERICA'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York in association with the Center for Investigative Reporting. Stephen Segaller, director of news and public affairs programming at Thirteen, is executive-in-charge of AIR. Tom Casciato is executive producer; Scott Davis is senior producer.
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Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, NOW With David Brancaccio, and Cyberchase - as well as the work of Bill Moyers - to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The Thirteen Walking Tours, New York Voices, and Reel New York. Thirteen extends the impact of its television productions through educational and community outreach projects - including the Celebration of Teaching and Learning - as well as Web sites and other digital media platforms. More information can be found at: www.thirteen.org.
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