tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859094080858570248.post21085700897657321..comments2024-03-28T13:00:43.523+05:30Comments on Rapid Uplift: Groundwater, Mountains and MediaSuvrat Kherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18281172632784780810noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859094080858570248.post-3974144315257604942007-10-29T10:26:00.000+05:302007-10-29T10:26:00.000+05:30Sadanand-No doubt scientists also exaggerate the i...Sadanand-<BR/><BR/>No doubt scientists also exaggerate the importance of their own work. It seems likely, given that they may be slogging away for years, and suddenly a reporter shows up, it will be natural to bluster a little. In this case it is possible that Dr. Arya hinted that his work was something special and the reporter just took his word for it. But the stuff about gravity and isostacy is sheer media ignorance and reluctance to take any effort to understand concepts. <BR/><BR/><I>"In case you are serious about building statistics & an index on 'Error Prone' journalism, I am willing to contribute. I guess you will soon get bored with the monotony."</I><BR/><BR/>We'll stop at instance number <BR/>65536 :-)<BR/><BR/>cheersSuvrat Kherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18281172632784780810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859094080858570248.post-63426572459534434772007-10-29T06:53:00.000+05:302007-10-29T06:53:00.000+05:30Error Prone!!Hi Suvrat,Your frustration with inacc...Error Prone!!<BR/><BR/>Hi Suvrat,<BR/>Your frustration with inaccuracies in science reporting is justified. If it is any solace to you, I may add, it is universal in most Indian media. Take this small example that needs only Second standard arithematic to spot the mistake. This one appeared in Asian Age.<BR/>=========================<BR/>HCC bags contracts worth Rs 983cr in Delhi, Mumbai<BR/>from Asian Age/Business by Asian Age<BR/><BR/>By Our Correspondent<BR/><BR/>Mumbai, Oct. 26: Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC) has received three major orders worth Rs 983 crores to construct two underground stations in New Delhi and build a water tunnel in Mumbai. This was stated by HCC vice-president (finance) Pravin Sood while addressing the media in Mumbai on, Friday.<BR/><BR/>He said, "The orders include a Rs 774.64 crores contract from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for constructing two underground stations and a tunnel between New Delhi and Talkatora Garden stations.<BR/><BR/>"Also, we have bagged another order worth Rs 727 crores from the Bombay Municipal Corporation to construct a large water tunnel. <BR/>=========================<BR/>In defense of the scribes I conjecture that they are so hard pressed for time, flitting from conference to conference and eating samosas & sipping tea, poor beasts hardly can attend to their work - 'checking the veracity' of the handouts.<BR/><BR/>The hydrogeologist story you have covered is slightly different, but basically the pattern fits. Sound bytes are at a premium, studiousness is at basement bargain prices.<BR/><BR/>You have given a clean chit to the scientists, but I am not so sure of their non culpability. Many times experts are prone to grandiloquence when in company of the laymen and may make claims far beyond their own considerable competence. You have pointed out yourself in Watson, Flannery, Pachauri-Nuclear deal, et al.<BR/><BR/>In case you are serious about building statistics & an index on 'Error Prone' journalism, I am willing to contribute. I guess you will soon get bored with the monotony.<BR/><BR/>Cheers / SadanandAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00684465001067666937noreply@blogger.com