When I think if Time magazine, or even Time.com for that matter, I don’t think of agenda driven hacks or sloppy sensationalists trying to out do the competition. I think of solid journalists who, for the most part, let their work speak for itself. For cryin’ out loud, this is the publication that names the Person of the Year. You’ll probably sense my disappointment in the following letter… although it may be masked by a dash of snarkieness brought on by frustration. Have a look:
Examiner.com is an interesting publishing model that hints at the future of journalism; citizen reporters lending their eyes, ears and expertise to an evolving, organic news site. But what can sound good in theory can go completely off the tracks in practice. The proverbial inmates are running the asylum over at Examiner.com and its coverage of seafood science is evidence of that.
As you might know from this blog we’ve had a number of interactions with A & E’s History and the Dr. Oz show in the past few weeks. The two case studies stand in stark contrast to each other and now some independent arbiters are weighing in.
Just the other day a question appeared on Yahoo Answers that asked:
What is up with Mercury and Fish? If fish is so bad for people, why have Asian cultures eaten it for thousands of years with no negative impact? I love fish, it is great to lose weight and delicious. I am wondering why the government, and many others, are saying to limit our consumption of fish. If anybody knows the truth about what is going on please let me know.
In case you haven't seen this a Canadian researcher has made a bit of news north of the border with a presentation on fish and mercury. Dr. Gideon Koren says his latest work, looking at more than 100 women's hair samples, has lead him to the conclusion that 20% to 30% of Canadian women of reproductive age have mercury levels high enough to damage the brain of a developing fetus.
The U.S. Geological Survey is releasing a study today that "Reveals Mercury Contamination in Fish Nationwide." And so it appears to be the case. No argument here. Nope. If that's what their study shows, I have no reason to doubt ‘em.
On Saturday the New York Times editorialized on the issue of mercury emissions from America's coal-fired power plants in the wake of a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin a rulemaking that could result in reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants by 90%.
Yesterday the New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope of the blog Well, linked to a piece on shopping for sustainable seafood over at True/Slant written by Seattle food writer Kim O'Donnel.
