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Article: How's the PR this time?

Tina,

You are now the proud owner of your first article. :victory:

No question it deserves that status! I enjoy your unique view on the PR element of happenings.

And thanks for the nice words, you're too kind.

Now we're just down to one - Let our paper go!! ;)

Otis
 
Very, very nice summation of the facts, Tina. Your grading system -- an A+ for writing style and accuracy. Congratulations on a job very well done. Thank you.
 
C
You certainly speak for me Tina. Your grading system is fair and accurate. I hadn't thought of a poor grade for the journals but your absolutely correct about that.....no amount of good science will matter if the publishers don't have the integrity to back it up. Well written. Thank you
 
Excellent analysis. A year ago, CFS wasn't even on the radar news wise. Now it is not only on the radar, but is considered by more and more to be a organic disease.

Before you write a comment regarding a news article keep the following in mind.

Journalism requires reporters covering news to seek out "experts" who can speak regarding a specific position, thus they might get a spokesperson(s) from govt. agencies, researchers or other experts to explain a point of view. Professional journalists are required to balance between many differing points of view. That's their job - it's not optional. News articles are not opinion pieces nor do they endorse one point of view over - they simply report.

Readers may not like the news, or they may not like or agree with one of the experts chosen, or they may not agree with what is said, but that is irrelevant to writing a news article regardless of the topic.

That said, many websites do allow reader comments and the reader comments that have the best chance of being heard rather than ignored are courteous, brief and make comments directly related to the topic at hand. And as the New York Times editor for letters to the editor puts it, "Letter writers, to use a well-worn phrase, are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts." Avoid the conspiracy theorist label and use facts.

If you want to point out for example that the CFS research program at the CDC, which is in the viral division, doesn't do their job very well don't just say that.

For example, count up how many studies they have actually done on viruses relating to CFS and compare that to the total number of CFS research studies that have been done by CDC researchers. Hint: It's less than 10 out of a 100 or more. Then compare that to say the number of studies done by scientists who are members of the IACFS.

Don't like the amount of money allotted to CFS research by the NIH? Point out how much money is allotted, compare it to money allotted other diseases and then compare them both to the number of people effected as well as the economic cost.

For example, at one point Reye's Syndrome, which is a very rare disease, effecting very few people, and not directly effecting the economy received about the same amount of funding as CFS.