Press Release: Reuters Correspondent Fox Hits 'Easy Button' on Autism Reports, Says National Autism Association

Press Release
Source: National Autism Association

Reuters Correspondent Fox Hits 'Easy Button' on Autism Reports, Says National Autism Association
Tuesday February 21, 9:03 am ET

Reporter's 2/19 Story on Misunderstandings Leaves Little Clarified, Fails to Ask Tough Questions

NIXA, Mo., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Today a group of parents in the mercury poisoning/autism community say there's no real difference between the James Freys of the world and reporters who "nod and write." Many believe the author of a Reuters article published on 2/19 entitled "Autism Surrounded by Misunderstandings," was quick to accept the answers given and took the easy route on such a complicated topic.

In Sunday's article, Maggie Fox, who typically favors proponents of ethylmercury Thimerosal, rested her faith in psychiatrist Dr. Irving Gottesman about the concerns of vaccines and their mercury ingredients' contribution to the rise in autism. In Fox's article, Gottesman said, " ... scientists are battling a plethora of Internet Web sites devoted to the idea that mercury causes autism."

Yet many scientists believe mercury has indeed caused the rise in autism. Web sites, along with written materials and peer-reviewed studies support accredited scientists and researchers that Fox failed to use as a balance to her autism article. Parents are growing frustrated with these nod-and-write tactics.

"Mass communication is about working hard to spread the most dependable information for the sake of knowledge and intelligence," says parent Wendy Fournier. "Unfortunately, Ms. Fox has forgotten this. Meanwhile, our children sit in a prison of silence where the truth has become banned."

Some parents believe that the court of public opinion is just as powerful as honest science when it comes to the wide prevalence of mercury poisoning dubbed "autism." "Journalistic integrity is key," says mother Rita Shreffler. "Otherwise, you're simply a transcriber ... a secretary of half-truths, rather than a championed poet of the whole truth."

The Reuters article came after a meeting of fellow doctors with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Donors of AAAS include Johnson and Johnson, Merck, and Pfizer. Reuters also has several ties to pharmaceutical companies such as Merck and Glaxo SmithKline. A few of these pharmaceutical companies hold a vested interest in disproving a link between mercury-containing vaccines they manufactured and neurological injuries to children.

NAA, a non-profit and parent-run organization, plans to launch a formal request for full disclosure to groups such as Reuters. The request would require any conflicts of interest be disclosed at the end of articles that deal with pharmaceutical issues. For more information visit www.nationalautism.org.

Contact:Rita Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 417-818-9030
Wendy Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-632-7523

Source: National Autism Association


For information, resources and practical strategies on autism visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.