[camle]

how well did misrepresentation work for HP?

[SirLinksalot]

Here is another report on this :

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2006/10/celeste_biever_secret_agent_ne.html


Celeste Biever, Secret Agent? New Scientist Reporter Caught Impersonating a Cornell Student to Get Story on ID


Celeste Biever, a reporter for the viscerally anti-ID New Scientist magazine, seems to have been caught trying to impersonate a Cornell University student in order to ingratiate herself with pro-ID students there. The fascinating story is recounted here on the blog of Cornell’s IDEA Club. Evolutionist Allen MacNeill, who teaches biology at Cornell, calls Biever's tactic "Pretty sleazy."

Biever and her editors apparently don't subscribe to the Code of Ethics issued by the Society of Professional Journalists, which clearly states:

"Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public."

The New York Times imposes an even stricter standard on its employees:

"Staff members should disclose their identity to people they cover (whether face to face or otherwise), though they need not always announce their status as journalists when seeking information normally available to the public. Staff members may not pose as police officers, lawyers, business people or anyone else when they are working as journalists."

Since the students in question were happy to talk with reporters, there seems to be no justification for Ms. Biever's impersonation.

[theDentist]

I wonder if he'll receive a reply?

[peyton randolph]

Celeste Biever is a New Scientist reporter

---

Don't worry. The Flying Spaghetti Monster will punish her.

[Coyoteman]

Why should they complain? ID is a misrepresentation from start to finish.

It is religion masquerading as pseudo-science in a blatant attempt to force a particular narrow interpretation of scriptures into science

[Gingersnap]

The issue here is whether or not the reporter acted ethically. Not whether or not you agree or disagree with the purpose of the club.

This is unethical since the club is clearly willing to meet with even "hostile reporters. The woman was apparently attempting to form some type of person relationships within the club under a false pretense.

[Fester Chugabrew]

I can see why a person might want to divest themselves of the baggage attendant to being a reporter if only to see how they and their ideas are received. It does make a difference.

[My2Cents]

Now, did deviousness evolve, or was it the result of the fall as recorded in Genesis?