She practically blamed Mel Gibson* for why diet supplements are not regulated as drugs by the FDA and attempted to scare viewers with the extreme case of a woman's nose falling off, but Sharyn Alfonsi's hit pieces on nutrition supplement makers weren't biased enough for CBS's in-house blogger-cum-media critic Brian Montopoli.:
"The real problem is that any topical product such as the one described in this section of Mr. Hurley's book is not a dietary supplement, and cannot be legally sold as one in the United States. By law such products are drugs. If either Mr. Hurley or his editors had bothered to look at the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, they could have avoided this fundamental mistake," wrote Marc S.Ullman, a New York attorney who represents clients "in the dietary supplement/natural products industry."
"The 'Evening News' gave us two sides of the argument, but it didn't tell us which one was right," complained PublicEye blog Editor Brian Montopoli, formerly of the Columbia Journalism Review.
"When you have someone like [writer Dan] Hurley, who bills himself as a dispassionate observer who simply ‘looked at what evidence I could find’ and reported it, you tend to believe him over representatives of the industry that is being criticized," he explained.
*Gibson was the "star" of a 1993 ad by supplement makers that warned of government intrusion into Americans' lives if a law under consideration in Congress were to pass.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Soooo, it's the reporter's jo
January 17, 2007 - 16:37 ET by Chris NormanOh, ho. So, it's the reporter's job to conclude for the viewers what argument is "right" on controversial issues? I guess they consider that it is, since they have been practically telling us to vote for the Democrat candidate in every race they cover...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
This guy came from the Columb
January 17, 2007 - 17:42 ET by mattmThis guy came from the Columbia Journalism Review, right? That, I assume, is directly tied to the Columbia University school of journalism; the supposed leader in journalism schools in the country, right? And he thinks it's bad if a reporter simply reports, and doesn't pass judgment?
For the sake of the reputation of the CUSofJ, I hope Mr. Montopoli is "formerly" of the Columbia Journalism Review because they kicked his ignorant a$$ out! But,sadly, he's probably one of their star alumni...
Oh the most important world o
January 17, 2007 - 17:47 ET by ucOh the most important world of marketing and advertising and the importance of getting the words right. I hope I don't have any typoes in next bit of copy. In America we still claim to speak english but electing "the gore" as President when gore still exists is asking a task of a human only worthy of a god; to even consider voting for a Hillary to be again a Rodham, and, not to be seen as named by her parents (for attractive poetry of such a maiden name), later more complete(??), as a Cliton, seems such hubris. Please forgive all our learnings and attempts to know a language of which may have lessoned us to be weary, if so name get elected. Much too much to expect I think especially when on a return from Iraq Hillary Rodham goes into (remember her days saying their women deserved rights) try to get any money from me - I must respond to the polls mode. Paul Begatta how can you possibly say as you did on CNN that you are for Hillary? Can't we keep some reality in our politics? Do your own mad libs and see how quickly you too my throw out such names. G. DeWitt Clinton as an American history precedent?
Okaaay. I'd better go home no
January 17, 2007 - 17:58 ET by Chris NormanWhoa. That was esoteric. I'd better go home now. I'm feeling dizzy ... and stupid...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb