Free Speech
News Media
He Said, She Said: Washington Post vs. Associated Press
Coverage of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial has been about as could be expected, all over the board. There’s been good, bad, and downright ugly.
Here then is a snapshot of how reporters can shape the public’s perception in the way they report a single statement. This example comes from the coverage of Michael Behe’s testimony in the courtroom yesterday.
Michael Powell form the Washington Post is to be commended for being fair and accurate. Compare this statement of Powell’s with the AP’s (mis)characterization of the same thing yesterday. (see the Post story here, and the AP story here)
Michael Powell, Washington Post: “The question of religion came up several times Monday. Behe freely acknowledged that he is Roman Catholic and believes the hand of the intelligent designer belongs to God. But he emphasized that this was a personal, philosophical belief. Intelligent design, he argued, must succeed or fail as a scientific theory.”
Martha Raffaele, AP: ” biochemistry professor who is a leading advocate of “intelligent design” testified Monday that evolution alone can’t explain complex biological processes and he believes God is behind them. … The intelligent design concept does not name the designer, although Behe, a Roman Catholic, testified he personally believes it to be God. “I conclude that based on theological and philosophical and historical factors,” he said.
Powell gives you the whole picture, showing the separation between the science and Behe’s personal beliefs. Raffaelle presents the same thing, but in such a way as to leave the reader with the idea that Behe’s conclusions about ID are based on his religious beliefs. Clearly that isn’t the case, and Behe has stated this repeatedly in the past, as well as several times yesterday in the court room.
Discerning readers will (hopefully) pick up on this since the articles are both in the Washington Post.