Hey there skeptifans. Here are the media Fails and Wins you sent me last week.
Clik here to view.
Does this look tasty to you?
‘Proof’ that homeopathy doesn’t work
Blogger Darwin Harmless sent in this link. It’s a win for reporting that an experiment showed homeopathy did nothing. It’s a fail for putting proof in ironic quotes, and citing a lot of useless anecdotal evidence on the other side of the argument. Until objective proof is valued against personal beliefs, people will continue to waste their money on alternative medicine.
Jane Seymour makes a case for adult vaccination
Lorne sent in this Win. Now, we shouldn’t be looking to actors for medical advice, but people do it. So it’s nice to know that Jane Seymour is raising awareness about getting vaccinated, even if she only played a doctor on tv. The article discusses some of the vaccines that adults should be aware of, and shares some sad statistics about how aware Canadians are on this subject.
What If There Were Rules for Science Journalism?
Anna sent in this Win. What if their were guidelines on for reporting on science? The public interest is at stake when bogus cures are reported as real, statistics are misinterpreted, and false balance is given to “experts” with no real expertise. Wouldn’t it be nice if people expected a standard level of quality from the media, and it was enforced by editors? We can only hope.
Placenta pill service offered for P.E.I.
John spotted this story. A woman in PEI is offering a service to convert your placenta into pills you can take post partum. The idea is that these pills would contain hormones and vitamins to keep you happy and healthy after you give birth. Is there proof that this works? Of course not. But that didn’t stop the CBC from reporting on it.
Did you spot a media Fail or Win? Send it to me at links@skepticnorth.com.
