Please read news articles with a small pinch of salt

[TomCatt]

(take with a pinch of salt)

A number of news articles about electronic cigarettes (yes, we call them PVs; but for most of the world, at the moment, they are electronic cigarettes) have been published recently. News stories aren't necessarily reported to just provide facts; they must capture the reader's/viewer's attention. This is just a fact of life (you take the good, you take the bad ).

Articles pertaining to those against electronic cigarettes seem to often include techniques of propaganda, which Elaine (Vocalek) has pointed out a number of time here on ECF. Here is a list of propaganda techniques - Propaganda Techniques.

Other articles report speculations (opinions, not facts) since at the time of the reporting there are few known facts. This happens often in news reporting. If the story is big enough, additional reports are 'front page news' and we find out more facts, either debunking or confirming initial speculations. If the story isn't big enough to generate additional reports, or facts are slow in being discovered; then we are left with the speculations. Speculations, no matter how many times repeated, are not facts.

[ok, rant over ]

Brock

 

[Vocalek]

Just a comment: Nine times out of ten, it is the person who was interviewed for the story employing propaganda techniques, not the reporter. Unless you are familiar with the subject, it is difficult to tell when someone is only telling you part of the truth ("card stacking") or when what they are saying is pure speculation with no supporting data ("assertion".)

So don't blame the reporter. He or she may be a clueless as we first were (including me!) when all this began.

Sadly, even the person being interviewed may be a dupe as well, if they are quoting from the FAQ, Policy Statements, Press Releases, etc. issued by their headquarters organization or by trusted sources such as the alphabet soup gang (ALA, AHA, ACS, CTFK, ANR, CDC, FDA, etc. etc.)

A good rule of thumb: If what you are reading is upsetting to you, question everything. All is not always as it seems.

 

[Petrodus]

Just heard on the news that the publisher and author Andrew Breitbart
just passed away (Link). A friend recalled one of Andrew's sayings...
Which obviously applies to our movement.

"If your taking flack...You must be over the target"

 

[TomCatt]

Thanks for the clarification Elaine. Yes, when the propaganda techniques show up, it's usually the interviewee (knowingly or not) not the interviewer.