Media Hype and Flame Retardants

“CBS presents hype as news,” by American Council on Science and Health.
Does anyone remember when CBS used to be a respected news organization that did its own research — or at least quoted independent experts? Or even conducted interviews? When it comes to health and science news, alas, it seems like they’ve been reduced to rewriting alarmist or sensationalist press releases. Last month there was the magic “cancer bra” which the network claimed might detect breast cancer … then there was last week’s “Trouble in Toyland” report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group that warned against toys with harmless levels of phthalates in them — written up by CBSNews.com in an article that seems based entirely on two press releases. Read the full story in ACSH Dispatch.