CBSNews.com Yanks Quake/Warming Story, Blames AP; AP: 'It’s not an AP story'

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Could this have been an, "Oops, we messed up" moment for CBSNews.com?

On June 18, CBS.com posted a story claiming that global seismic activity on Earth is now five times more energetic than it was just 20 years ago because of global warming. [see related NB story by D.S. Hube here]

The story had no byline, but was attributed to the Associated Press. The story was identical to a June 17 Market Wire press release attributed to Tom Chalko, the scientist that made the claim of the earthquake/global warming link.

However, as of 3 p.m. on June 19, the CBS.com story was no longer available and CBS.com was engaging in a blame game of sorts. (Hat tip: Marc Morano, Inhofe EPW Press Blog)

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According to Mike Sims, director of news and operations for CBSNews.com, the story was an Associated Press story that came across their wire. But Susan James, a researcher for the Associated Press, told the Business & Media Institute no such story exists in their database.

"It's not an AP story," James said. "It's not turning up in our archives."

Sims did not immediately return an inquiry for a response to the Associated Press' claim.

The original story and the identical press release detail the alleged increased danger from earthquakes as a result of global warming. "New research compiled by Australian scientist Dr Tom Chalko shows that global seismic activity on Earth is now five times more energetic than it was just 20 years ago," the release/story said.

Dr. Luboš Motl, a former Harvard University physicist, called Chalko an "übercrackpot" on his blog on June 19 and questioned Chalko's claim about the increase in seismic energy.

"[T]he earthquake energy hasn't increased, of course," Motl wrote. "Read the FAQ by USGS who are responsible for seismology. The total energy is dominated by earthquakes at 7.0 or higher and they haven't increased - they have actually decreased a bit in recent years. However, many small earthquakes went undetected in the past."


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Could this have been an,

Could this have been an, "Oops, we messed up moment" for CBSNews.com?

The biggest "oops!" by CBSNews.com was presenting this stupidity as actually credible in the first place. 

“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)

But, they checked with Dan and he said that it looked OK to him.

 

The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.

But, they checked with Dan and he said that it looked OK to him.

Oops. Double post.

 

The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.

tabloid journalism

It's long been obvious that the lamestream media will throw up any sensational story just to get readers/viewers. Is it any wonder then that a really stupid story by a known kook winds up as a headline?

Perhaps CBS got scammed by a masquerade hacker...? It could have happened. Most of the educated folks in the West are finally "getting it" that the whole climate B.S. is a scam. The dirt worshippers are starting to get desperate so a scam news posting is not out of the question. However.... a responsible news outlet would have also published a full caveat about this loon to go with it.

Word is

CBS News/60 Minuts will be doing segments on Batboy, Cleetus Smiff's Alien Abduction/Anal Probing Encounter and Lead into Gold; What the Government is Hiding.

"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain

Why is it that these "oops"

Why is it that these "oops" moments only occur when bashing a republican or promoting a liberal cause...

Because all of the

Because all of the "reporting" is republican bashing and liberal promoting all the time. So the odds are about, oh, 100% that the "oops" moments will happen then.

"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"

Paid to AP

I wonder if CBS got charged $2.50 a word from AP on a story from their wire service that they rebroadcasted and then pulled.

  • Only the human superiority complex can think it can control something as big as the weather. It was changing before we came and will change after we are all gone.