Media Blog (Archive)

Just last week NFI held its annual meeting and I had the pleasure of meeting with some really smart engaged communicators who understand the importance of getting the ground truth science about seafood into the hands of consumers. It is widely understood that with the latest and most balanced information in hand the public can determine for themselves what is misleading rhetoric and what is the truth.

A few weeks ago, we shared a preview of a Mother Jones article about Tuna and Mercury. Now, Mother Jones made the entire article available via the Web.

When we deliver the real facts about mercury in fish, backed up by the latest science, it appears groups like Oceana don't like it too much. Case in point; back on September 17th the Fort Myers News Press published an opinion column submitted by NFI.

So it looks like the Chicago Tribune is completely satisfied that Michael Hawthorne's latest story about mercury in seafood meets its high journalism standards, an interesting development given the paper's once-proud lineage.

The Chicago Tribune fears that it was unclear in its previous letters. They wrote back yesterday to reiterate that they believe Mr. Hawthorne's article was "factual and fair."

There's an old newsroom saying, "If it bleeds, it leads." You know the one that claims violence, gore and conflict drives readership and viewership? It's the same one that relegates good news to a sub header below the fold or pushes it to a back page or even to the newsroom floor.

It's a fact, good news just doesn't make the same kind of waves that bad news does and when it comes to seafood that's never been more true.

Here's a look at our latest letter to the Tribune. I am eager to hear back from them and without sounding catty I fear the managment may be ignoring our requests. With that in mind I must say, perhaps prematurely, that if they are indeed simply ignoring our requests their silence speaks volumes. The old adage that if you ignore a problem it will go away isn't what I would consider a thorough proactive management technique. But I will hold off on my judgment for now.

Here's the latest on our contacts with the Chicago Tribune. I wrote to the Standards Editor Margaret Holt  last week to make sure she had received my pervious emails and was aware of my continued request for review of Mr. Hawthorne's work. That was just about a full week ago. My letter to her can be found below.

Still no word from the Chicago Tribune on our multiple requests for a review of Michael Hawthorne's latest story about mercury in seafood, so let's continue to look at some of his previous work.

While we wait for the Chicago Tribune to answer our requests for a review of Michael Hawthorne's latest story about mercury in seafood let's take a look at some of his previous work.