Denial or seeking to deny man-made global warming

[izabsmiling]

Aptly enough imo Prince Charles refered to climate change deniers as the headless chicken brigade .

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Should Australian newspapers publish climate change denialist opinion pieces?

Should Australian newspapers, like Fairfax, publish opinion pieces that deny or seek to cast doubt on man-made global warming

Should Fairfax — or other media publishers — give a platform for climate change denialist opinion pieces?

The most recent example is Fairfax publishing a piece by John McLean, a member of the International Climate Science Coalition.

In the opinion piece, McLean repeats various lines designed to create uncertainty about the recent report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and to impute a sinister motive on IPCC members of political and scientific deception.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/southern-crossroads/2014/jan/04/climate-change-climate-change...

When Fairfax saw mining billionaire Gina Rinehart buy a large stake in the company, the chairman Roger Corbett upheld the board's support for the charter of editorial independence. This was opposed at the time by Rinehart, although Rinehart board appointee Jack Cowin signed it.

Coincidentally, Rinehart is a big supporter of ICSC policy advisor Christopher Monckton and in a 2011 interview expressed her disbeliefthat "a small amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere" could lead to global warming.

The Rinehart shareholding controversy even saw Fairfax mastheadslaunch a new slogan "Independent. Always."

A part of the charter is that editors behave according to the Australian Journalist Association's code of ethics, the first standard being that journalists:

Report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts.  Do not suppress relevant available facts, or give distorting emphasis.

At the same time that Reddit /r/science decided to ban climate denialism, the L.A. Times also decided to introduce an editorial policy for its letters pages. Editor Paul Thornton wrote:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/southern-crossroads/2014/jan/04/climate-change-climate-change...

How does publication of  such fit with Australian Journalists Code of Ethics ?

Should we follow the lead of other Countries ?

nb please feel free to expand on this title and opening post in the manner which is the norm with general discussions.

[silverfaun]

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@am*3 wrote:

Exclude me in the none of you, please, silverfaun.

How many newspapers, reddit sub-editors have actually stated they will exclude opinion pieces (not just letters to the editor) by skeptics anyway? Doesn't appear to be very many

Years ago, before the internet, if a member of the public wanted to be outraged about something their only option to reach a large audience would be to write to the editor of local and national newspapers. Now they have many options from their own websites and blogs etc. Not printing their letters in the letters to the editor of daily newspapers isn't going to have much effect on them not spreading their opinions around the globe.

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I beg your pardon am*3 I didn't mean to lump you in with the rest of them. I shudder when anyboby anywhere tries to exert control over a group they don't agree with. I could invoke godwins law here.

[izabsmiling]

Definition:  OPINION

1. [noun] a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; "my opinion differs from yours"; "what are your thoughts on Haiti?"
   Synonyms: sentiment, persuasion, view, thought
   
   
2. [noun] a belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people; "he asked for a poll of public opinion"
   Synonyms: public popular vox populi
   
   
3. [noun] a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; "his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page"
   Synonyms: view
   
   
4. [noun] the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision; "opinions are usually written by a single judge"
   Synonyms: legal judgment, judgement
   
   
5. [noun] the reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
   Synonyms: ruling
   
   
6. [noun] a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; "his impression of her was favorable"; "what are your feelings about the crisis?"; "it strengthened my belief in his sincerity"; "I had a feeling that she was lying"
   Synonyms: impression, feeling, belief, notion
   http://www.elook.org/dictionary/opinion.html

[cherry*135]

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@izabsmiling wrote:

I would hope that it would be any connent which is by defition 'opinion'

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The LA Times editor, for example, specifically said "Letters to the Editor". (letters from readers)

The piece I posted from the SMH was specifically about 'Letters to the Editor" (letters from readers)

[cherry*135]

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@silverfaun wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

Exclude me in the none of you, please, silverfaun.

How many newspapers, reddit sub-editors have actually stated they will exclude opinion pieces (not just letters to the editor) by skeptics anyway? Doesn't appear to be very many

Years ago, before the internet, if a member of the public wanted to be outraged about something their only option to reach a large audience would be to write to the editor of local and national newspapers. Now they have many options from their own websites and blogs etc. Not printing their letters in the letters to the editor of daily newspapers isn't going to have much effect on them not spreading their opinions around the globe.

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I beg your pardon am*3 I didn't mean to lump you in with the rest of them. I shudder when anyboby anywhere tries to exert control over a group they don't agree with. I could invoke godwins law here.

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What the op is objecting to doesn't seem widespread and across the board for newspapers. The LA Times & the SMH restrictions refers to letters to the editor only. I am sure the Editor's receive a lot of letters they wouldn't publish, not just climate change skeptic views.

[izabsmiling]

I back the Australian Journalist Code of Ethics mentioned in the OP 

Report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts.  Do not suppress relevant available facts, or give distorting emphasis.

[cherry*135]

Which is a general statement that applies to a lot of subject matter.

Not everyone that replies to this thread has to agree with the opinion piece in the opening post do they?

If a reader writes a letter to the editor and states the current PM is the best PM ever and they agree with all the LNP does.. do we all believe that to be true or do we accept that it is someones elses opinion but not ours?

[ca04]

It is my opinion that 2 + 2 =4 but mind this is only my opinion and may or may not have any basis in fact.

To countermind the above statement I am also of the opinion that 2 X 2 + 4 which again is my opinion so

consider it may also not be a fact.

[ca04]

2 X 2 = 4

[izabsmiling]

I actually can't see why it even needs to be asked really.If we know the scientic facts and our media know their obligations it should just be done...I suppose it's the resistance some have to accept (for one reason or another) scientific evidence.

These apparently apply or rather perhaps should apply accross the board and to all content so it seems .So it makes sense that publishing lies isn't the done thing

The Australian Press Council

Statements of Principles

The Council's Statements of Principles are binding on all publications which are subject to its jurisdiction. They comprise

• the General Statement of Principles; and
• the Statement of Privacy Principles.

The Statements of Principles are interpreted and applied by the Council when mediating and adjudicating on particular complaints. Along with the Specific Standards and Advisory Guidelines, they form the Council's Standards of Practice.

General Statement of Principles

The General Statement of Principles covers the following areas:

1. Accurate, fair and balanced reporting
2. Correction of inaccuracy
3. Publishing responses
4. Respect for privacy and sensibilities
5. Honest and fair investigation; preservation of confidences
6. Transparent and fair presentation
7. Discretion and causing offence
8. Gratuitous emphasis on characteristics
9. Publication of Council adjudications

http://www.presscouncil.org.au/statements-of-principles/

[izabsmiling]

Am*3 , I don't ask,want or expect you or anyone to agree with me or anyone  else.