I don’t see how this could possibly end badly
ScienceBlogs has launched a new food science blog with content written by PepsiCo.
I’d find the utter and complete violation of any semblance of journalistic and publishing ethics utterly laughable, except for one thing: dozens of good people have put years of work into ScienceBlogs.com, most of them paid little if at all, and now — with one stupid decision — their publisher has eroded their credibility by association. That sucks.
I left a comment on the AstroTurfScienceBlog. Screenshot below as I don’t expect it to see the light of day.
I’m really glad I declined ScienceBlogs’ offer to host Creek Running North a couple years back. I mean, damn.
Updated to add: Unsurprisingly, a number of bloggers are considering suspending or closing their ScienceBlogs.com blogs if the decision to host Pepsico’s paid blog isn’t rescinded. What is surprising to me is the number of “SciBlings” who seem to be adopting a “wait and see” attitude about it. They’re not all as dense as this regrettable person seems to be: In fact, some usually very smart people seem to be under the impression that this is all something new, justifying a fair-minded, “wait and see” empiricism.
If I may: empiricism does not mean neglecting your due diligence to read prior literature. This is nothing new. I recognize that scientists who write have several justifiable bones to pick with journalists, but in this instance those scientists apparently have a big, basic, non-rocket-science lesson they desperately need to learn from said journalists. That lesson: never let the firewall between advertising and editorial drop. Never. Not for a second. Not for a page. If you do, it means you’re not serious about what you’re doing. It means you’re not working for a credible publishing organization. Even mediocre, burned-out hack journalists get this, and obey it almost involuntarily. Yes, there is troubling advertiser influence, especially in these days of increasing corporatization of publishing. It’s hard to resist sometimes, particularly if your publisher is a sleazebag. But even the worst sleazebags generally keep editorial and advertising distinct. If your goal is to better the state of science journalism using the new, more democratic tools available these days, tossing out a century and a half of painfully-worked-out journalistic codes of ethics is not the right place to start.
Comments
Very disturbing news.
I am hopeful that a resounding lack of clickthroughs will make it wither swiftly on the vine, but furrfu indeed.
AP NEWSWIRE:for immediate release
BrightSource Energy and Bechtel announced today that they are now funding a formerly
unknown blogger, Morongobill,a long-time critic of their Ivanpah Solar Project at the
California-Nevada border. Terms were undisclosed, but some of the principals were
available for comment.
Bobby Kennedy, Jr., a prominent environmentalist and now venture capital partner said
he was the go between to bring the parties together. “Recently, Morongobill made some
disparaging remarks about the Riverkeeper’s award presented to the governor on his blog,
Morongobill’s Backporch, which I first found offensive but upon reading his blog further
I felt there might be room for the parties to compromise.”
John Woolard, ceo of BrightSource said he too had been skewered several times by the
blogger but that upon examination of his blog, it was determined that there were actually
some points of agreement, including the need to build on “washed up, industrial land or
depleted farmland, and that there had been some soul searching at his company and that
the firm was willing to reach out to environmental organizations and others for advice
and consultation.”
The blogger, Morongobill, was unable to reached for comment.
07/06/2010 1428pm: for immediate release
@PalMD, who blogs at ScienceBlogs, agrees with you - check out his post at ReportingonHealth.org: http://bit.ly/be2sUG
Barbara Feder Ostrov
Deputy Editor, ReportingonHealth.org
I saw that, Barbara. Good piece.
Bill, congrats! Did you hold out for a good dental and vision plan?
It looks as though they’re letting comments through. I’ll give them credit for that much.
Fans of low humor may appreciate the #scibloxymoron hash tag on Twitter.
I posted my last entry on my ScienceBlogs.com site half an hour ago, and I e-mailed in my notice.
Good to see you here, Blake. Your observations on this sad mess have been much appreciated.
Glad to hear it.
Page 1 of 1 pages
