NBC

Really? No not really. But for months if not years NBC News has relied on an erroneous statistic that suggested the oceans would be empty of fish by 2048. A statistic that was in error, an error that NFI brought to NBC's attention but instead of doing their due diligence in researching the evidence we provided them they sent us a statement that claimed the 2048 statistic was, "both a fair and accurate representation of fisheries and fisheries science."

In 2006 marine ecologist Boris Worm of Dalhousie University suggested that the oceans would be empty of fish by 2048. His prediction made for good sound bite science and the media ran with it. The problem is his prediction was wrong. And now he's admitted as much. A brand new study published in the journal Science today finds Worm saying he plans to be "hosting a seafood party" in 2048 instead of mourning the loss of all marine ecosystems.

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt believes it is okay to report something that another news outlet has reported without verifying, confirming or clarifying its authenticity and or currency as long as that other news outlet is "highly respected and reputable." Even if NBC has been made aware that the information they are reporting is erroneous. How do I know this? Well... they told me.

I was pleased to see NBC responded to our request for a change to its April 20th story so quickly. The email from the Senior Producer for Standards and Practices is below. You will notice NBC hedges and returns a face-saving rewrite of the graphic we challenged-- allow me to translate: We were wrong, we will change it immediately. Done and done. Now we're just waiting for a response to the request for a change to its April 19th story. NBC Email: Mr. Gibbons,

This week NBC Nightly News is finding that details matter. When journalists use vernacular where scientific specificity is called for or unresearched statistics they once heard in place of the most up to date information, they wander down a path where accusations of sloppiness and laziness mix with questions about ethics and integrity.

NFI Fact Checks NBC.doc

For willingness to enter into a dialog about the issues we have with their story, NBC gets an A. For constructive, factual arguments in their correspondence... well, let's just say they get less than an A.  

First credit where credit is do-- NBC Nightly News Executive producer Alexandra Wallace personally responded to our concerns about Anne Thompson’s report on seafood and the oceans.