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
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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.
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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
Whoa, a hundred million dollar settlement, partly from the actions of this editor. Lends new meaning to the term ‘Business Insider’.
=================
John says: January 5, 2012 at 6:09 am
John, thank you for the poem. You’ve made a good start to my day.
It’s even worse in New Zealand, where sharks have escaped their proper environment and become air traffic hazards.
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/airline-pilot-startled-by-flying-shark-20120104-1pk9o.html
But which woman gets the Biggest Extrapolation Prize – the journalist, or the scientist?
The scientist is using highly suggestive language wrt the “environmental change” and the hybridization event having to do with more and less tropical waters – which is not correct if the sharks have much wider ranges.
Actually it was not Dillinger who stated “that’s where the money is” it was Willie Sutton–Look it up on Wikipedia
Fascinating. A Google cache result shows a Business Insider page with an excerpt that links to Grist Magazine and an article written by one of the most infamous anti-skeptic writers, Ross Gelbspan, who was writing about his hero, Joe Romm: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wwzkz1pxLykJ:www.businessinsider.com/a-near-thumbs-up-for-joe-romm8217s-8216straight-up8217-2010
Hey, it was dark, and they were very, very drunk. ANY shark could have made the same mistake.
If you can’t be with the shark you love, love the shark you’re with. It’s better than being a lone shark.
Perhaps we should rewrite her bio to this:
“Dina Spector graduated summa cum laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a B.S. in imaginary journalism and a minor in geography.”
People are afraid of certain words, because they fear making an accusation will make them look “mean” or something.
Like, for example, Specter was LYING about what Morgan said. Also, changing the article without explaining it, to cover up the malfeasance, this is also a lie, which is sadly common in journalism. Also, you can get a feel for the integrity of the “Business Insider” by looking at the record of Henry Blodget, a securities fraudster who has been permanently banned from securities trading.
Many con-men and frauds depend on the politeness and forgiveness of others to not only survive, but to continue to ply their trade in lies.
This was not a “mistake,” and “accident,” or a “boo-boo.”
It does not help us, them, or anyone to keep giving the benefit of the doubt to people who take cynical advantage of it.
If I were Dina’s mum I would not be happy about her working for Mr Blodget. No nice girl’s mother would be.
Given his history of securities fraud, calling his grubby little publication ‘Business Insider’ seems apt. Transparency is clearly not his strong suit.
Merovign, you hit the nail about Blodget…not an ounce of integrity in that crook…he’ll publish any lie.
So this shark runs on batteries as well as gasoline ?
Not Dillinger. Willie Sutton was the famous bank robber.
Jim B
Owen in Georgia says: January 5, 2012 at 9:18 am re practical joke newspapers.
Yes, understood, but an insidious effect of these spoof newspapers is to drag down the levels of the serious ones. Ever ruminated on why the blog has become popular at the expense of the newspaper? I feel that’s one of the reasons. I could assert that it’s the same virus that has infected the writing of the various IPCC Summary for Policymakers and made it a pile of drivel, but having done so, I won’t.
I think she should move into narcissitic photo-journalism. She is cuter and hotter than a basket of burning kittens.
Delingpole
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100127634/ha-ha-warmist-losers-for-you-the-war-is-over/
I did not think Jess Morgan’s email address was an issue since , at the bottom of the 22 December 2011 press release, she was designated the media contact (Media: Dr Jess Morgan on 0419 676 977.) and clicking on her name brings up an email addressed to her.
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In case anyone noticed, when I copied the email I failed to notice that the sent date was in Australian time, so it looked like I sent it the day before I received the reply.
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Also notice that the date and time were identical on both the original and revised article by Dina, but the number of comments had changed, which means she revised the article shortly before Jan 5, 7:43 AM, after getting a lot of WUWT reader comments.
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It seems that the occupants in the NH think of south as warmer, which is the exact opposite of what happens in Oz, which is where the warming connection fits in even though the fish are getting cold adapted, not warm adapted.
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I asked Dina a question:
Q: Why did you quote Jess Morgan for something she did not say?
Dina, Can you explain the discrepancy between what you claim Jess said and what she told me.
I would also like to 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 you implied.
And She replied:
Dina Spector on Jan 5, 9:54 AM said:
Hey Dennis,
Thanks for your concern. The article has been edited to more clearly reflect that other researchers who were a part of the study are exploring climate change as one possible trigger for the hybridization, though scientists are still looking into what’s driving the interbreeding.
Result: A non answer.
http://www.businessinsider.com/questions/why-did-you-quote-jess-morgan-for-something-she-did-not-say?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=question_answer
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Dennis Kuzara says:
I agree with you on media selling a narrative but it certainly seems the scientists are also trying to selling climate change. (However there was never a fishery reason to even bring climate change up– and read some of Ovendon’s quotes)
I have seen no press release from the scientists or the university trying to “correct” the widespread press “disinformation” that was not limited to Dina Spector. To me, this was not simply the press getting the story wrong. It appears they were led.
Ron says:
January 5, 2012 at 6:00 am
The so called Eastern Red Wolf is a hybred cross between a grey wolf and a coyote. There is no distinct / unique DNA sequencing that is not common to a coyote or grey wolf. The ‘red wolf’ was listed as endangered under Endangered Species Act (ESA) sometime in the 1970’s and approximately 400 were captured in the region along the Texas and Louisana coast and moved to North Carolina for captive breeding.. At that point the were declared extinct in the wild. (I guess so if they caught them all. Was the ESA protection of alligators causing issues with these swamp hybreds?). From what I recall there were about 20 – 30 pairs used for breeding. I have no info as to what was done with the other ~350 or so. Populations were initially established in eastern and western NC. There are now populations in FL, NC, SC, and one other state I believe. After the introduction into the Cades Cove area (Smokey Mountains) of NC, ‘coyotes’ began showing up in western VA in packs and spread eastward. As far as I know sheep ranching in VA is all but over. Deer, turkey, grouse, rabbit, groundhogs, etc have taken a big hit. One VA biologist that I spoke to estimated that the ‘coyote’ population at about 2 per sq mile.
The captive breeding program is alive and well today funded by your tax dollars for a natural hybred. The land purchases and direct ‘red wolf’ costs are beyond anything that you could imagine. Lots of captive bred pups are produced annually but I haven’t been able to find what happens with them. ‘Experimental populations’ maybe? Would this mean dumping a pack out in WV, VA, MD, and elsewhere. I believe most states have regulations against releasing coyotes. Would a coyote hybred be exempt from the law?
There is much to be revealed with this but the main point that I wanted to make was that hybredization is a normal occurance. One University research project performed DNA testing in Maine on trapped coyotes (~65 or so) and found that about 1/3 had more that 50% wolf genes. There is a lot of info available from various sources on this. It is hard to believe that the abuse of the ESA with regards to the so-called Red Wolf has last so long. Well … actually it is not so hard to believe.
Perry says:
January 4, 2012 at 11:24 pm
[…] In the case of Spector, only regression, Here is an example of the serious reporting at Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/business-insider-face-swaps-2011-12?op=1
=================================
My word, they’re all children … no wonder getting the article properly corrected is a problem.
Bit like this http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/01/05/what-financial-meltdowns-teach-us-about-the-ipcc/#comments
How does evolution proceed without hybrids?
Editor is Henry Blodget!!!
THE HENRY BLODGET! The guy who is banned from the securities industry after pumping up stocks in the dot-com bubble!
Oh dear, what a tangled web we weave!
I would say that Dina Spector is a “Useful Idiot”. The Gore/Hansen/Mann cabal need these tools. She has sold her credibility to stop global warming. Another dolt brain-washed to be ashamed of her humanity. I wonder if she has also agreed to sterilize herself to save the planet…. One can only hope.
So I ask BI editor Henry Blodget a question on the treatment of skeptic scientists, and he completely sidesteps it: “Please send us links and data to the most persuasive “there is no climate change” arguments out there, and we’ll look at it.” http://www.businessinsider.com/questions/bi-needs-to-ask-itself-some-especially-rough-questions
This ranks up there with the defrocking of Bill Nye the science guy for his hand in fake science video products in conjunction with Al Gore movie studios.