AP’s Seth Borenstein is just too damn cozy with the people he covers – time for AP to do something about itWatts Up With That?Dec. 17, 2009 |
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Here’s a recent story from the Associated Press: By Seth Borenstein, Raphael Satter and Malcolm Ritter, Dec 12, 2009 “E-mails stolen from climate scientists show they stonewalled skeptics and discussed hiding data -- but the messages don’t support claims that the science of global warming was faked, according to an exhaustive review by The Associated Press.”Look in the mirror, fools. It’s right there in the CRU emails: On Jul 23, 2009, at 11:54 AM, Borenstein, Seth wrote: Kevin, Gavin, Mike,Now, I’m going to bring to your attention, this entry from THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES For more than a century and a half, men and women of The Associated Press have had the privilege of bringing truth to the world. They have gone to great lengths, overcome great obstacles -- and, too often, made great and horrific sacrifices -- to ensure that the news was reported quickly, accurately and honestly. Our efforts have been rewarded with trust: More people in more places get their news from the AP than from any other source.In the 21st century, that news is transmitted in more ways than ever before -- in print, on the air and on the Web, with words, images, graphics, sounds and video. But always and in all media, we insist on the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior when we gather and deliver the news.When a reporter get’s too cozy with sources, calling them by their first names, with no hint of professional formality, it raises questions of integrity. When a reporter is part of an email thread where one of the respondents says: On Jul 23, 2009, at 9:05 PM, Jim Salinger wrote:It gives the appearance that he is not interested in reporting the other side of the story, especially when he is the instigator of the email thread by saying: Marc Morano is hyping wildly. It’s in a legit journal. Whatchya think?So, how then would the AP trust Seth Borenstein to do an “exhaustive inquiry” when he is part of the issue? Perhaps further FOIA documents will tell us just how cozy Mr. Borenstein is with the people he reports on. Now consider what other members of the media people write about him. From the Tacoma News-Tribune Associated Press reporter Seth Borenstein has a terrible reputation as a runaway alarmist. Even global warming enthusiasts and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are embarrassed by his over-the-top prognostications of doom and selective use of data to support his fading dream that mankind can actually control climate.When other reporters people can see the bias, AP, you have a problem. A few days later, spurred on by Borenstein’s initial letter, we see this one: From: Kevin TrenberthMore instances of scientists acting like bullies to pressure editors and reviewers to accept the view they hold dear. Notice blogger “Tamino” aka Grant Foster is part of the gang. Does Seth Borenstein ever report anything about undue pressure on journals exercised by his circle of climate coziness? No. But to have Mr. Borenstein report upon the investigation of the leaked East Anglia emails, when he himself is part of the emails, is certainly a conflict of interest. In that story today about the investigation, written in part by Borenstein it says: The archive also includes a request from an AP reporter, one of the writers of this story, for reaction to a study, a standard step for journalists seeking quotes for their stories.When the AP allows reporters to report on stories they are involved in, and for them to be able to dance around their own involvement in the same story, it clearly becomes a conflict of interest. It is, in my opinion, time for AP to remove Seth Borenstein as “science reporter”. I believe he can no longer be trusted to report climate science without bias, due to this clear conflict of interest. The Associated Press Headquarters 450 W. 33rd St. New York, NY 10001 Main Number +1-212-621-1500 Paul Colford Director of Media Relations Jack Stokes Manager of Media Relations [email protected] NOTE: I misidentified the article in Tacoma News Tribune as being from the reporter, when it was a letter reaction. In the right side is a “Share this story” bar, which aided in my misidentification. I regret the error. Thankfully, our large group of reviewers here caught this error on my part and it is corrected in the story above. – A |