The New York Times has a new promotional feature, Book Is Rallying Resistance to the Antivaccine Crusade pushing Dr. Paul Offit's, "Autism's False Prophets" book. The NYT describes Dr. Offit as "mild, funny and somewhat rumpled" so you know where they are going with this one. They focus on Dr. Offit's receipt of death threats and quote him in a self comparison to Jonas Salk.
The NYT also manages to bring the beautiful actress, and Jenny McCarthy debater, Amanda Peet into the story, complete with photo of her in very motherly looking attire. What they don't do is mention the Poling case which put a serious dent in the "vaccines don't cause autism" position. Nor do they mention Dr. Julie Gerberding's acknowledgement that in some cases vaccines may trigger "autism like symptoms". Nor do they mention Dr. Bernardine Healy's (former head of the NIH and American Red Cross) comments calling for more research of a possible vaccine-autism connection, the limitations on the epidemiological studies which are used in defense of the vaccines, the discouragement by health authorities of vaccine-autism studies or the fact that vaccines still contain mercury.
The NYT also manages to bring the beautiful actress, and Jenny McCarthy debater, Amanda Peet into the story, complete with photo of her in very motherly looking attire. What they don't do is mention the Poling case which put a serious dent in the "vaccines don't cause autism" position. Nor do they mention Dr. Julie Gerberding's acknowledgement that in some cases vaccines may trigger "autism like symptoms". Nor do they mention Dr. Bernardine Healy's (former head of the NIH and American Red Cross) comments calling for more research of a possible vaccine-autism connection, the limitations on the epidemiological studies which are used in defense of the vaccines, the discouragement by health authorities of vaccine-autism studies or the fact that vaccines still contain mercury.
The NYT has taken a stance and it has a right to do so. But it might be more honest to place the article in the opinion or editorial sections of the paper. Or in the advertising pages.
Journalism used to be about objectivity and presenting a complete, balanced summary of all sides of public issues. And the New York Times used to be about journalism.
autism
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