The Media Filter

Dr. Crippen, a doctor who has the misfortune to work in the British National Health Service, has an interesting story about the critical faculties of the BBC. Blessed Auntie Beeb simply posted a news release from a firm that makes artificial milk posing as a healthcare advocacy group as a news story, then when found out altered the story without notice. I wonder what could have attracted the BBC to the story in the first place? Claims of babies dying – check. Claims that normal part of diet is causing it – check. Authoritative-sounding statistics – check. General suspicion that industry actually enjoys killing its customers – check. Who could blame them? The story was simply too good to fact-check…