Your letters to WIN TV and Media Watch

As always, your letters are wonderful! If you are not aware what these letters are about, please read the post from earlier today - False Balance or suppression of a scientific debate? - it's definitely not too late to write in so please get some ideas from these letters and drop a quick line to both Media Watch and WIN Television. Just to repeat the information on who to write to:

Please comment on the Media Watch page that hosts this story (and read the story transcript if you didn’t view the program yourself) by clicking here. And if at all possible, please send an email (click on Ms Brown’s name below) or letter of support to:

Shirley Brown, Group Business Director WIN TV Locked Bag 8800 Wollongong NSW 2500 Australia

Be sure to include me in the CC or BCC field on your emails – Meryl Dorey

Subject: Vaccination

I am protesting in the strongest possible terms to J Holms's comments about the AVN on Media Watch last night. He is entitled to his own opinion, but it has no place in a public forum like this. He is wrong on so many fronts:

1. there is a wealth of scientific research available on the dangers and side effects of vaccination.

2. the AVN is not anti vaccination. It is pro choice - a very important distinction. It recommends that people who do choose to vaccinate be informed on both sides of the topic. The AVN came into being exactly for this reason - because the other side of the topic was never presented.

3. His job is not to pronounce that something is "bullshit", when he has so clearly not availed himself of any elementary research. If we wanted this sort of language and ignorance we have Alan Jones.

4. Underneath my anger I found it very interesting that JH has never used that sort of language when dealing with the most bizarre and stupid people and issues - he simply becomes more sardonic. The fact that he lost his cool over this topic clearly shows that his buttons were pressed, so I'm sorry if he has personally suffered because of the issue of vaccination. Perhaps he needs to look more closely at whatever it is.

I am so disappointed in him - I have been following him for years, and always thought him erudite, articulate and objective. He has feet of clay, after all. But he has no right to pronounce the way he did. It must have contravened some sort of broadcasting law (?). I won't let this matter rest. Next step is the Press Council.

Attack against the AVN

ABC’s propensity to biased reporting showed up loud and clear again in last night’s Media Watch attack on Meryl Dorey and the AVN.  At one point in the program Jonathan Holmes claimed to sometimes take on the role of investigative journalist.  He clearly hasn’t done so in this uninformed assault on an organisation that is doing a great service informing the public about the dangers of vaccinations - something most medical practitioners seem reluctant to do.

For Mr Holmes’ edification, I have attached an article by former Neurosurgeon, Dr Russell Blaylock: Truth behind vaccine cover-up, and below are some links from reputable sources showing the medical industry’s tendency to push drugs (and this includes vaccines) on behalf of large, very influential pharmaceutical companies, with little regard for effectiveness or safety.

This link is to a short talk by Dr Ben Goldacre, What doctors don’t know about the drugs they prescribe:

http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_what_doctors_don_t_know_about_the_drugs_they_prescribe.html

And here’s an excerpt of Bad Pharma >>  on the same topic, also by Dr Ben Goldacre.

From another doctor: The Dangers of the Medical Industrial Complex | Dr. Mark Hyman

From Dr Russell Blaylock, M.D: Vaccines, Neurodevelopment and Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Danger of Excessive Vaccination During Brain Development: The Case for a Link to Autism Spectrum Disorders

Finally, this site has a wealth of information on vaccination: Vaccines Did Not Save Us – 2 Centuries of Official Statistics

Yours sincerely

SH BEdSt; DipT

Cooee (to WIN TV),

I didn't see Media Watch or your show, just read some comments on their site.

In the past I never questioned vaccination, however I went to a seminar one time and listened.

So I checked many journal articles and came to the conclusion that it is bad science.

When people get hysterical about a subject, that's when I get suspicious as it often means they have nothing else to justify their position.

Politicians have used this trick for thousands of years. Nero blaming the Christians for burning Rome was a good example.

So good for you for at giving a balanced view, I am very disappointed at the comments made by Media Watch.

By the way, I am an industrial chemist by trade who took the time to make an informed decision.

Cheers from BM

Dear Shirley Brown,

Just writing in relation to the measles story that you aired and are now receiving flack for.

I tip my hat to you, and reporter Michaela Gray, for having the guts to remain fair on this issue. Taking sides and refusing to allow a particular point of view is NOT responsible journalism. Meryl Dorey has substantiated her statement since mediawatch aired their disgusting piece last night. Her response can be read here:

http://nocompulsoryvaccination.com/2012/10/02/false-balance-or-suppression-of-a-scientific-debate/

I think I speak for the whole community when I say we demand unfettered access to all reasonable information on this important issue. We are discerning. We don't want governmental (or corporate) suppression of material or viewpoints which may matter to us. You have done a great job in not pandering to interest groups which want the opposite. You demonstrated the true spirit of journalism where our publicly funded ABC crumbled into a propaganda machine.

Thank you again.

GB

Dear Ms Brown,

I refer to the recent show by WINTV which shows both sides of the story on vaccination. I’d like to congratulate you and your TV station for reporting ALL aspects of this controversial topic.

In the age of Internet, any manipulations of news is futile and will only ultimately lead to the obsolescence and demise of its own media company. Any readers of historical science will tell you that science is not static.

I will now remember WINTV and the name Shirley Brown as synonymous with "unbiased reporting".

Thank you.

Yours truly,

PT

Dear Ms Brown,

I would like you to know that I support freedom of choice and support the AVN and Meryl Dorey in Active healthy debates about vaccination.

It is outrageous that you would try to stifle an individual’s right to make an INFORMED decision about their own health care.

Regards,

R

Hello Shirley,

My name is HF. I saw neither your own show nor the ABC Media Watch program, so I cannot comment much, but I would like to thank you for giving Meryl Dorey a chance to speak. I have been a member of the AVN for many years, and not once have I either seen or heard the organization comment in a false or misleading manner, quite the contrary, the sites that I have visited have been well referenced. Nor have I experienced the AVN “forcing” their opinion down my throat.

I am not against vaccinations but I am against being forced to submit myself to something that does not have a credible safety record.

There is no proof that unvaccinated people are infecting the rest of the public, quite the contrary, I have been lead to believe that once a person is vaccinated they are immune to that particular disease, so how can an unvaccinated person infect them?

There are too many unanswered questions which the “experts” don’t seem too keen to answer and too many “experts” stifling debate on the vaccination issue.

Sweeping the whole issue under the carpet will not stop those who want to learn.

Once again thank you so much for allowing a voice.

HF