Here’s a recent story from the Associated Press:
By Seth Borenstein, Raphael Satter and Malcolm Ritter, Dec 12, 2009
“E-mails stolen from climate scientists show they stonewalled skeptics and discussed hiding data — but the messages don’t support claims that the science of global warming was faked, according to an exhaustive review by The Associated Press.”
Look in the mirror, fools. It’s right there in the CRU emails:
On Jul 23, 2009, at 11:54 AM, Borenstein, Seth wrote:
Kevin, Gavin, Mike,
It’s Seth again. Attached is a paper in JGR today that
Marc Morano is hyping wildly. It’s in a legit journal. Whatchya think?
Seth
Seth Borenstein
Associated Press Science Writer
[7]sborenstein@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
The Associated Press, 1100 13th St. NW, Suite 700,
Washington, DC
20005-4076
202-641-9454
Now, I’m going to bring to your attention, this entry from THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
For more than a century and a half, men and women of The Associated Press have had the privilege of bringing truth to the world. They have gone to great lengths, overcome great obstacles – and, too often, made great and horrific sacrifices – to ensure that the news was reported quickly, accurately and honestly. Our efforts have been rewarded with trust: More people in more places get their news from the AP than from any other source.In the 21st century, that news is transmitted in more ways than ever before – in print, on the air and on the Web, with words, images, graphics, sounds and video. But always and in all media, we insist on the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior when we gather and deliver the news.
That means we abhor inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions. It means we will not knowingly introduce false information into material intended for publication or broadcast; nor will we alter photo or image content. Quotations must be accurate, and precise.
It means we always strive to identify all the sources of our information, shielding them with anonymity only when they insist upon it and when they provide vital information – not opinion or speculation; when there is no other way to obtain that information; and when we know the source is knowledgeable and reliable.
It means we don’t plagiarize.
It means we avoid behavior or activities that create a conflict of interest and compromise our ability to report the news fairly and accurately, uninfluenced by any person or action.
It means we don’t misidentify or misrepresent ourselves to get a story. When we seek an interview, we identify ourselves as AP journalists.
It means we don’t pay newsmakers for interviews, to take their photographs or to film or record them.
It means we must be fair. Whenever we portray someone in a negative light, we must make a real effort to obtain a response from that person. When mistakes are made, they must be corrected – fully, quickly and ungrudgingly.
And ultimately, it means it is the responsibility of every one of us to ensure that these standards are upheld. Any time a question is raised about any aspect of our work, it should be taken seriously.
“I have no thought of saying The Associated Press is perfect. The frailties of human nature attach to it,” wrote Melville Stone, the great general manager of the AP. But he went on to say that “the thing it is striving for is a truthful, unbiased report of the world’s happenings … ethical in the highest degree.”
He wrote those words in 1914. They are true today.
…
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The AP respects and encourages the rights of its employees to participate actively in civic, charitable, religious, public, social or residential organizations.
However, AP employees must avoid behavior or activities – political, social or financial – that create a conflict of interest or compromise our ability to report the news fairly and accurately, uninfluenced by any person or action. Nothing in this policy is intended to abridge any rights provided by the National Labor Relations Act.
Here is a sampler of AP practices on questions involving possible conflict of interest. It is not all-inclusive; if you are unsure whether an activity may constitute a conflict or the appearance of a conflict, consult your manager at the onset.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION:
Anyone who works for the AP must be mindful that opinions they express may damage the AP’s reputation as an unbiased source of news. They must refrain from declaring their views on contentious public issues in any public forum, whether in Web logs, chat rooms, letters to the editor, petitions, bumper stickers or lapel buttons, and must not take part in demonstrations in support of causes or movements.
When a reporter get’s too cozy with sources, calling them by their first names, with no hint of professional formality, it raises questions of integrity.
When a reporter is part of an email thread where one of the respondents says:
On Jul 23, 2009, at 9:05 PM, Jim Salinger wrote:
Hi All
Thanks for the pro-activeness. Is there an opportunity to write a
letter to JGR pointing out the junk science in this??….if
it is not rebutted, then all sceptics will use this to justify their
position.
Jim
It gives the appearance that he is not interested in reporting the other side of the story, especially when he is the instigator of the email thread by saying:
Marc Morano is hyping wildly. It’s in a legit journal. Whatchya think?
So, how then would the AP trust Seth Borenstein to do an “exhaustive inquiry” when he is part of the issue?
Perhaps further FOIA documents will tell us just how cozy Mr. Borenstein is with the people he reports on.
Now consider what other members of the media people write about him. From the Tacoma News-Tribune
Associated Press reporter Seth Borenstein has a terrible reputation as a runaway alarmist. Even global warming enthusiasts and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are embarrassed by his over-the-top prognostications of doom and selective use of data to support his fading dream that mankind can actually control climate.
When other reporters people can see the bias, AP, you have a problem.
A few days later, spurred on by Borenstein’s initial letter, we see this one:
From: Kevin Trenberth <trenbert@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: Michael Mann <mann@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: ENSO blamed over warming – paper in JGR
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:23:09 -0600
Cc: Grant Foster <tamino_9@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>, p.jones@xxxxxxxxx.xxx, “J. Salinger” <j.salinger@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>, j.renwick@xxxxxxxxx.xxx, b.mullan@xxxxxxxxx.xxx, Gavin Schmidt <gschmidt@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>, James Annan <jdannan@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Hi all
Wow this is a nice analysis by Grant et al. What we should do is turn this into a learning
experience for everyone: there is often misuse of filtering. Obviously the editor and
reviewers need to to also be taken to task here. I agree with Mike Mann that a couple of
other key points deserve to be made wrt this paper. Making sure that the important
relationships and role of ENSO on interannual variability of global temperatures should
also be pointed out with some select references (as in recent emails and the refs
therein). In terms of the paper, I recommend consolidating the figures to keep them fewer
in number if this is a comment: combine Figs 3 with 4 , and 6 with 7. Make sure the plots
of spectra have period prominently displayed as well as frequency and maybe even highlight
with stipple some bands like >10 years. Glad to sign on: I would need an acknowledgment
that NCAR is sponsored by NSF.
Regards
Kevin
More instances of scientists acting like bullies to pressure editors and reviewers to accept the view they hold dear. Notice blogger “Tamino” aka Grant Foster is part of the gang.
Does Seth Borenstein ever report anything about undue pressure on journals exercised by his circle of climate coziness? No.
But to have Mr. Borenstein report upon the investigation of the leaked East Anglia emails, when he himself is part of the emails, is certainly a conflict of interest.
In that story today about the investigation, written in part by Borenstein it says:
The archive also includes a request from an AP reporter, one of the writers of this story, for reaction to a study, a standard step for journalists seeking quotes for their stories.
When the AP allows reporters to report on stories they are involved in, and for them to be able to dance around their own involvement in the same story, it clearly becomes a conflict of interest.
It is, in my opinion, time for AP to remove Seth Borenstein as “science reporter”. I believe he can no longer be trusted to report climate science without bias, due to this clear conflict of interest.
The Associated Press
Headquarters
450 W. 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001
Main Number
+1-212-621-1500
Paul Colford
Director of Media Relations
Jack Stokes
Manager of Media Relations
NOTE: I misidentified the article in Tacoma News Tribune as being from the reporter, when it was a letter reaction. In the right side is a “Share this story” bar, which aided in my misidentification. I regret the error. Thankfully, our large group of reviewers here caught this error on my part and it is corrected in the story above. – Anthony
Sponsored IT training links:
Download 642-456 questions and answers with self paced 642-873 practice test to successfully complete JK0-016 certification.
Smokey: “…If the AP had an ethics policy actually in force, it would have taken immediate action against Borenstein when it became apparent from the leaked emails that he was acting as Mann’s personal propagandist in private, but acting as an just another columnist in public.
“Since the AP took no disciplinary action against Borenstein for his glaring ethics violation, it means the AP condones Borenstein’s secret strategizing over how to best sell AGW to the public.”
Since AP has been revealed as standing for “All Propaganda,” we must assume that their ethics policy is simply that, another piece of propaganda.
The Irish are starting to question the veracity of the doomsdayers.
Recently David Bellamy was interviewed on Irish TV Late Show :
and now this:
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/tide-is-turning-on-climate-change-1973273.html
OUTRAGE!
Way to go after ’em, Anthony.
Chris
Norfolk, VA, USA
Biased.
Seth Borenstein is yet another example of a BIASED Liberal Extremist Press.
They don’t “search” for the truth. They “pick and choose” their sources and then they spew it as…fact.
If God wants the Earth to warm…then it will.
This “chatter” is nothing but “intelectual distractions” between those who like to hear themselves talk. PATHETIC!
Oh, yes I did say the word GOD for in this day and age (sadly) far too many of those “in power” never bring up God or give thanks to God in print or on TV or on the Radio. Everything comes from God and if we, as a Country, had the “press” put 1/2 of their efforts into adhereing and respecting God then this World would be a better place.
During the interim we are left with Seth Borenstein and his “close knit group of fellow Liberal Extremists” all crying “the sky is falling”. Pathetic.
Jefff Schrembs, American Citizen
“Grant et al.” Sheesh!
Jason (11:37:50) : The times is the last outpost of the Kilimanjaro theory, which I thought all alarmists had dropped, but they keep at it.
FWIW, the “base” (I can’t bring myself to call it “raw”, and “base” seems so much more accurate… ) GHCN data shows the area surrounding Kilimanjaro is cooling, if only a little:
http://chiefio.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/ncdc-ghcn-africa-by-altitude/
There is also the interesting pattern that Egypt started history with the thermometers at low altitudes near the water, now they have moved inland to be closer to the Sahara Desert…
Maybe we can send Seth to survey the African thermometers out in the Sahara… they ARE warming, just not the way he thinks…
Kudos to the author of this article for allowing the “light of the truth” to pierce the darkness of untruths, collusion, and deceit.
Global Warming has been scaring our children, draining our resources, and enriching those who already had power and money…like Al Gore.
Everyone has a duty to do as little “harm” to this Earth as possible and to leave the waters, and air, clean for our children…and theirs. But, doing so should be a sense of pride and NOT to leave the efforts into the hands of those who SAY they are “offsetting carbon” and/or “planting a tree in Africa”.
It is a shame that so much attention and effort has been put into this “Emperors New Clothes” environmental heist. These EXTREMISTS will never stop crying, and stopping, America from using the resources that are abundant such as coal, natural gas, and even oil (yes I said oil). They won’t even “allow” Nuclear Power OR exploration for oil off of our coast lines.
Obama was “caught on tape” saying that as President he would not “forbid” Nuclear or Oil Companys from harnessing our natural resources but he would ensure that Laws were passed so that it would (to use his words) “bankrupt” those wanting to do so. PATHETIC.
America was founded with the understanding that Politicans would NOT be in Congress, or hold the Presidency, for monetary gain. They were paid little , or nothing, and they served in ADDITION to being businessmen/farmers/printers/etc. Compare that with today’s SERIAL and Multi-term Politicians who enrich themselves (see Charlie Rangel for an example) and/or their family members directly (see Nancy Pelosi for an example) all at the American Citizens expense.
Please keep these articles coming and perhaps the truth will STERLIZE the filth of all of these lies…and their deceitful motives.
Nuff said.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Years to all.
May God bless this great Nation (USA) and all of the Worlds children and those yet to be born.
Jeffrey Schembs, American Citizen
You sir are the true reporter. What you have done is what reporters used to do. Excellent article.
Great thread. Thanks for covering this Watts 🙂
Perhaps off subject, but public awareness of Climategate must be growing: I was surprised to see a Climategate story appear in the “top stories” page of Google News tonight. More interesting is the story was from the Kansas City Star and entitled, “Climategate: Who are the ‘deniers’ now?” by Thomas McClanahan. Haven’t there been some comments here that Google appeared to be “suppressing” Climategate searches and articles? If so, that has either been overwhelmed or turned off if it was in place. Good news. Climategate details must be spread far and wide daily.
Google censorship question – Al Gore’s past affiliation with Google and the millions he has made from their start-up phase may have something to do with it.
http://www.precursorblog.com/node/409
“The still unanswered question is how many tens of millions of dollars has Mr. Gore made from his boatload of Google options/warrants granted to him as “Senior Advisor” to Google?”
And where are the disclosures in the book that most all of Mr. Gore’s multi-ten million dollar net worth is in Google shares — constituting a huge undisclosed conflict of interest on the issue of net neutrality. “
M. Simon (11:21:08) :
Sorry for the imprecision, I used “Media outlets” as shorthand for the “main bloc” of the MSM that self-identifies as on that “cartain side,” i.e. NYT, LAT, MSNBC, ABC, etc.
Obviously there’s actual diversity of ideas in the blogosphere.
Also, WRT Google’s foibles: could it be that they’re trying to “hide the incline” of skepticism?
Did someone already post this? If not, words of wisdom from Environmental Phd David Bellamy. He was banned after challenging the modern Environmental orthodoxy.
http://tinyurl.com/dbshtj
…Melville Stone, the great general manager of the AP. But he went on to say that “the thing it is striving for is a truthful, unbiased report of the world’s happenings … ethical in the highest degree.”
He wrote those words in 1914. They are true today. AP STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
AP has long been “in the tank” for this issue. And others. So much so they recall the warning of a real investigative reporter Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Jack Anderson:
“We have [today] spin doctors in Washington whose job it is to lie to us. They are professional liars. And the way they lie is the most effective way. People, what they do is counterfeit the truth. They counterfeit the truth… The spin doctors that you read about in Washington are counterfeiting the truth, and they make it so much like the real thing that you are deceived.”
1999 speech, University Utah
Seth could not carry Anderson’s spittoon.
These “environmental” writers that the AP hires are straight out of the global warming alarmism school and know nothing else besides alarmism. The AP could care less what they write because they have no integrity whatsoever and many editors just republish whatever they send them because they don’t understand what’s happening. Activist reporters such as Seth Borenstein were literally made for global warming activism.
If any journalist would like to quote or reprint my posts on Borenstein (or any of my posts anywhere), feel free.
.. and here underlies the real problem with “Climate Science” as shown by the CRU e-mails.
Hmm. Interesting.
Last week, I’d had the last straw with my local paper. The most significant issues I had was with the increasing trend to use AP articles, and the fact that AP articles, on the whole, are extremely biased and/or filtered (i.e. a lie by error of omission).
It seems the worst of it has occurred over the past 8 months or so.
Many articles had no names associated with them (simply tagged as AP). When one can hide – as we all do to some extent, particularly on the internet – there is little reason for scruples, dedication, integrity or any of the whole slew of phrases one would believe to be associated with reporting.
“When a reporter get’s too cozy with sources, calling them by their first names, with no hint of professional formality, it raises questions of integrity.”
While many other points in your post are valid, this one is not. In fact, it’s wildly offbase.
Do you really think journalists go around — or should go around — addressing every source as Mr. or Ms. Whatever? Seriously? Is that really how you envision reporting taking place? What — that it’s some sort of buttoned-down endeavor, conducted by stiff professionals in suits, speaking in formal upper-crust dialects?
Seriously?
It’s not. It is, rather, a very scrappy, seat-of-the-pants sort of work stained with coffee and adrenaline and self-deprecating humor. It’s about coaxing information out of other human beings, and building long-term trust.
There’s a lot of stuff wrong with the AP, and in particular with the cited piece. But the informality displayed here certainly isn’t part of it.
sborenstein@ap.org is his email, info@ap.org is his boss. email away
Anthony, this is scurrilous. You’re complaining that Borenstein knows too much about the topic, that he strove to be fair.
It’s good reporting. Stop shooting at the messenger and publish your contrary data, if you have any.
It’s not reporting when your goal is to create an idea that man-made global warming is true. Instead of writing an article about Marc Morano hyping the article or contacting the scientist of the article that wrote the article against man-made global warming, Seth simply went to his sources to write a piece about how man-made global warming is true to counter Morano’s hype.
This is akin to a journalist writing about Obama’s economic and foreign policy by going to the GOP for quotes about how capitalism feeds the world (except that is true).
Well Borenstein is getting to be as Boring as Gorenstein.
The San Jose Mercury News printed that silly AP article today.
Same onld mantra; the e-mails wers stolen; they’re just some chaps letting off steam; the e-mails don’t change the data on global warming. Well of course not, the CRU can do that quite well by themselves, and GISS evidently does something similar.
The computer codes show what these goons have in their heads reserving space for brains; if they ever make it to Oz.
Of course since the original raw data has been erased (so the say), there’s no way to prove exactly which of those commented out code snippets are actually used to generate published output.
But since they are just code writers letting off steam; I suggest that CRU go through all of their codes, and every such instance of a code snippet that could be used, if uncommented out, to produce some false data manipulation, be erased permanently from the code, and from all backups of the code wherever they may be; and make any such use of the CRU’s data processing equipment be automatic grounds for instant dismissal; and permanent banishment from publication in peer reviewed jouranls on ANY branch of science.
Yes Seth; you are a bore; and your credibility has long since gone down the toilet.
Actually you and Andy Revkin, would make a great duet on America’s got talent.
How’s that lawsuit against GISS progressing? I think we need to see some discovery over here on this side of the pond!
A little over a year ago, a 13-year-old child named Aisha Ibrahim Dhuhulow was gang-raped. She went to her local authorities, unaware that they were taken over by extreme islamists, and ‘demanded justice’.
Her new ‘local authorities’ praised her for her demand for justice – and, in accordance with Sharia, promptly stoned her to death for ‘having had sex with men she was not married to’. In the process, she was dug up 3 times to see if she was dead yet – then, put back in and stoned some more….
Most of the people present tried to storm the execution and free her – so the authorities fired into them … and killed another child!
AP was the only ‘news agency’ with a reporter on the ground. How did they report this?
“A woman was stoned for adultery.”
AP has NOT been a reliable source of anything for quite a while!!!