UPDATE: 1/5/12 5:30AM – Due to reader pressure, the article has been changed – see below the Continue reading line.
The story about the hybrid sharks being a byproduct of climate change turns out to be an act of quote fabrication in some media outlets. This story by Dina Spector of the Business Insider, is a prime example of such quote fabrication:
After I showed the original press release contained not one mention of “global warming” or “climate change”, one of our readers decided to ask the researcher about this statement attributed to to Jessica Morgan in that Business Insider story:
According to lead researcher Jess Morgan, the hybridization might be a sign that the animals are adapting to rising temperature levels as a result of climate change.
Here’s the answer. Bolding mine.
I did the obvious thing this morning and emailed Jessica Morgan the following:
From: Dennis Kuzara [mailto:xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, 5 January 2012 1:04 AM
To: jessica morgan
Subject: Is this quote accurate?
Jessica
Dina Spector of the Business Insider,| Jan. 3, 2012, 3:09 PM, stated the following:
> The world’s first hybrid shark was discovered by scientists in waters off Australia’s east coast on Tuesday, reports Amy Coopes of the AFP.
>
> According to lead researcher Jess Morgan, the hybridization might be a sign that the animals are adapting to rising temperature levels as a result of climate change.
The press release made no mention of “climate change” or “global warming”. Is the quote in this news article that is attributed to Jess Morgan, (which I assume is Jessica Morgan) accurate?
Since sea surface temperatures have increased less than 0.45 degree C over the last 30 years, clarification of any known ties between shark interbreeding and climate change would be appreciated.
Thank you
Dennis Kuzara
And I received this reply:
On 1/4/2012 7:34 PM, Morgan, Jessica wrote:
Quote not correct – I have now stated numerous times that it is extremely unlikely that climate change caused the hybridization event – however, the hybrid-Australian blacktips are now being seen further south of their known range (Australain blacktips have a tropical distribution) in cooler waters suggesting that the hybrids may have a wider temperature tolerance than their parents (ie the hybrids may be better adapted to handle changing water temperatures). That long statement is being condensed and printed as your quote below.
Jess
==============================================================
Interestingly and refreshingly, Business Insider allows you to ask a question of the reporter, here’s a screencap of the footer allowing you to do just that:
You can click anywhere on the screencap (or the button) above to ask Dina that question. I’m sure we all want to know why. We look forward to hearing why the Business Insider makes up “scary” quotes from scientists where none actually exist.
According to her website at http://dinaspector.com:
Dina Spector graduated summa cum laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a B.S. in magazine journalism and a minor in geography.
A fine reference, and I’m sure she’ll have a good reason rooted in solid journalism that she’ll gladly share with us.
================================================================
UPDATE: The article has been significantly changed, both the headline and body of the text have been modified significantly, and the fabricated quote from researcher Jessica Morgan has been removed. See the screencap:
There’s no mention though of any correction on the story. http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-first-hybrid-shark–2012-1
And, even though researcher Jessica Morgan says:
I have now stated numerous times that it is extremely unlikely that climate change caused the hybridization event
They still have “climate change” in the headline.
No duty to the truth or scruples with these folks I guess.
==================================================
UPDATE2: I’ve heard back from the editor:
Here’s a story about your story, I’m sure you are already getting some questions
—
Henry Blodget
CEO/EIC, Business Insider
257 Park Avenue South, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10010
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“Dina Spector graduated summa cum laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a B.S. in magazine journalism and a minor in geography.”
What is the B.S. short for ?
People major in journalism because they are bad at numbers and language.
The second paragraph tells me all I need to know:
“… might be a sign that animals are adapting … ”
Are they allowed to do that?
“The story about the hybrid sharks being a byproduct of climate change turns out to be an act of quote fabrication in some media outlets”
Well, err guessed as much.
Typical Climate Change Hyperbole rubbish as usual.
I’m sharked by all of this. It really bites.
Well done Dennis. Very nicely put question to Jessica as well. I will hold my breath until I hear the corrections – not.
A typical, cr*p, complete non-sequitur?
I’m shocked, shocked that the dailymedia got it wrong.
The “business insider” will be one website I’ll avoid. Low hiring standards it seems.
Ms. Spector’s focus at Syracuse was clearly on the B.S.
REPORTERS: they report the STORY, working with editors and other folks.
HEADLINE WRITERS: they write the HEADLINES. I think they rarely consult the reporter, but I don’t know if that varies from place to place…
Of course, both are at fault here, I think.
It looks like this maybe the black-tip of the iceberg.
Perhaps she could put a warming spin to this…. I remember reading that some fish biologists had crossed a coho salmon with a walleye pike. They call this new fish a Cowall. However, it didn’t fight very hard so they then crossed it with a muskie. The Cowallskie didn’t seem to know how to swim but it was meaner than hell. So they crossed that fish with a Killer Whale. It became know as Killer Cowallskie that swam liked a Canadian wrestler.
Dina Spector, BS in magazine journalism…
and I emphasize the BS!!!
however, the hybrid-Australian blacktips are now being seen further south of their known range
============================================
They just “discovered” the stupid hybrids, they don’t know what their range is of might be….
…what range? probably seen further north too, but no ones looking there………
This is picking in the worst case…..using the warmer water parent as the range finder
How about turning it around, using the cooler water parent, and saying they are now being seen further north of their know range……..
You cross a cooler water shark with a warmer water shark, and you’re surprised that the range for the cooler water shark is extended into warmer water???
Truth is, you can’t make that jump just because something is a hybrid. You don’t know what traits might be enhanced or suppressed…you might even get something completely different.
….and you can’t assume this is something new, just because someone looked for the first time
/rant
Dina Spector is a reporter?
She evidently has been practicing jumping for awhile:
Outspoken Climate Skeptic Admits He Was Wrong About Global Warming
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-10-25/news/30319221_1_global-warming-climate-debate-climategate
Al Gore Shreds The Wall Street Journal Over Climate Change Article
http://www.themediabriefing.com/article/2011-09-09/al-gore-shreds-the-wall-street-journal-over-climate-change-article
FLOODS, HEAT WAVES AND STORMS: Here’s What The Future Of The Planet Looks Like
http://robinwestenra.blogspot.com/2011/11/global-warming.html
Latitude: I think you have it backwards
Note that unlike the USA, where further south usually means warmer, in Australia “further south” means closer to Antarctica, where the water gets colder. As noted in Jess’s reply the sharks are becoming more cold adapted, which is the opposite of what Dina implied.
or this:
15 Irrefutable Signs That Climate Change Is Real
http://www.businessinsider.com/climate-change-global-warming-scientific-evidence-2011-8#ixzz1iY4WftG2
I think you get the trend…
Dina Spector’s Experience
Reporter
Business Insider
Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Online Media industry
August 2010 – Present (1 year 6 months) New York,NY
Responsibilities include managing Business Insider’s fast-growing stable of outside contributors and syndication partners; working with online editors to curate and promote quality stories and features that MAXIMIZE SITE TRAFFIC; producing and editing content across website’s verticals
Production
Assistant Books By Design
August 2010 – August 2010 (1 month) Boston, MA
Copy edited, FACT CHECKED, proofread English and history textbooks in production; provided administrative support to project managers
—
Source: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dinaspector
—
It looks like she may have made the switch from fact checking to maximizing site traffic when she moved to the Privately Held Business Insider. With your addition of her ‘story’ and a link from the “The world’s most viewed site on global warming and climate change” she clearly has met one of her performance objectives.
I’m sure she will thank you later.
Mr. Watts
Thank you for your wonderful website and informative posts. Keep up the good work.
I just sent an email to Ms. Spector and will let you know if she replies.
Communications degrees are the diploma mill of otherwise legitimate universities. Everyone knows this. Her credentials mean squat.
@Craig Moore. Excellent!
Ahhh a new word “hybrids” Old words “mongrels” or mixed race etc. Sharks have finally been caught out. Humans, cats and dogs are also hybrids then??? Shit this global warming must have started millions of years ago then!! Then by deduction one could say no problem then therefore no problem now obviously. What do you say Watson?
Was quoted as fact in The Australian over the Christmas Break – shame they usually get these things right, but its silly season here.