In January 1997, ABC broadcast a segment on chemical sensitivity in which reporter John Stossel depicted MCS as a psychiatric disorder. The segment was repeated in August 1997 with a new introduction and new closing remarks, which failed to address the concerns raised by viewers in reponse to the original broadcast.
Some excellent letters were published on the internet. Unfortunately, they are not available in the MCS-Immune-Neuro archives, which began in April 1997. Therefore, a few of the best letters are reprinted here.
This page is made available temporarily for the convenience of internet list members. The letters herein were written for non-commercial internet distribution. Any other use requires permission of the original authors.
Strange bedfellows: Journalists as corporate shills Frontline Online article by Mark Shapiro using Stossel as an example of why Americans hate the press. The story was written when the Dr. Ziem's charges against him were still pending.
Highlights: A newsletter, Corporate Crime Reporter, reported that Stossel appeared before the Federalist Society, a group of conservative lawyers, and (Quote) talked up his upcoming projects - on "junk science," "freeloaders" and "the permanent government," all favorite conservative fodder - and made a pitch for corporate sponsors: "I certainly would encourage any of you who knows somebody who buys advertising on television to say 'please buy a couple of ads on those Stossel specials.'"
"A pitch for sponsors is generally not what an investigative reporter does," observes Jeff Cohen, director of FAIR. "But Stossel's reputation preceded him into that room - his attacks on environmental, consumer activist, and regulatory agencies got into that room way before he walked in. He's famous for being the reporter who 'champions the overdog.'" According to FAIR, two producers on Stossel's specials quit because, they say, he refused to accept information counter to his thesis about government regulation. (End of quote)
The Environmental Writer looks at Stossel's position as one of the few well-known journalists to oppose the environmental movement and his acceptance of fees from industry groups. (January 1995)
Dr. Albert Donnay responds to 20/20.
Northern Virginia Support Group
Modified Sept 8, 1997