There is now ample evidence supporting early claims by Toyota that, essentially, its vehicles were not at fault for a number of crashes last year. Unfortunately, the toll taken on the auto company has been significant both in terms of cost and reputation. A few have commented about the situation with marvelous insight: James Donnelly’s [...]
December 25, 2009
To public officials, the role of the news business is obvious. We see the process of information shaping first hand, warts and all. But ask a journalist their perspective of their role, and the reaction will likely be different. A public official being openly critical of the news media is quickly spun by journalists to mean that reporters must being doing the right thing. Conversely, journalists keeping public officials on their toes is considered a noble, expected calling of the news business, one that media outlets use to promote upcoming news. The logic is fascinating.
May 5, 2009
It is astounding to stop and reflect on the amount of misinformation around us. It goes beyond our ingrained tendencies toward misperception, misunderstanding and the difficulty in shifting our beliefs when confronted with contrary evidence. Each of these traits is natural and we are subject to these tendencies even when aware of them. So we [...]
August 8, 2008
Stories rule. Not in the sense of them being great, which they often are. Stories rule because they are what pique our interest. My story, your story, our friends’ stories, our family stories. Each is important, and each is in need of validation. And those stories are also utterly unrepresentative of what actually is. Stories [...]
June 4, 2008
How a consumer protection law may be defeated by a faux consumer watchdog campaign By Daniel Loxton [Editor's note: This is republished from The Skeptic. The intention with this post is to illustrate how 'grass-roots' campaigns, activist causes and the like don't have play by the rules of transparency, accuracy and the free flow of information.] [...]
February 16, 2011