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Post article “reports” on intelligent design as just more creationism

The Washington Post for all its prominence as a national newspaper continues to help spread the idea that design theory is just a new form of creationism. Admittedly the article is better than recent error riddled reports by Post reporter Valerie Strauss, especially since it does give more background on what design theory is, and quotes Mike Behe. However, the article doesn’t provide any quotes from design proponents that explain the distinctions and clear differences between creationism and intelligent design. And this even after the reporter was offered a chance for an e-mail interview and then spoke with Discovery Institute’s John West, who he then mistakenly calls Paul. It’s frustrating when reporters can’t even get names right, how can you expect them to really understand the issue.

This article, unfortunately, is appearing in newspapers all over the country with titles such as “Evolution Shares a Desk With Intelligent Design,” “Creationism evolves into intelligent design in some schools,” or “District issues creationism mandate”. Since up until now almost all headlines and articles have acknowledge that the Dover, PA district has called what they’re instituting intelligent design, it is obvious that this article so conflates the two that headline writers now claim that Dover has mandated creationism. Hopefully future reporters will be more precise with their language, balanced in their approach, and accurate in their descriptions, but I’m not holding my breath.

Robert Crowther, II

Robert Crowther holds a BA in Journalism with an emphasis in public affairs and 20 years experience as a journalist, publisher, and brand marketing and media relations specialist. From 1994-2000 he was the Director of Public and Media Relations for Discovery Institute overseeing most aspects of communications for each of the Institute's major programs. In addition to handling public and media relations he managed the Institute's first three books to press, Justice Matters by Roberta Katz, Speaking of George Gilder edited by Frank Gregorsky, and The End of Money by Richard Rahn.

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