Comments on: Autism rate of 1 percent, and the embargo that wasn’t http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/ Autism news and opinion Wed, 23 May 2012 04:28:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ashley http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66259 Ashley Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:33:05 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66259 Not sure if the embargo system is working because I don't think any of the media coverage on this was very informative. See a recap of news coverage here: http://www.newsy.com/videos/autism_on_the_rise Not sure if the embargo system is working because I don’t think any of the media coverage on this was very informative. See a recap of news coverage here: http://www.newsy.com/videos/autism_on_the_rise

]]> By: Sullivan http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66166 Sullivan Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:41:14 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66166 bensmymom- the point is that whoever told Lee Grossman about these studies blew it. That's why I started and ended the post with that information. Whoever did that broke the embargo. Personally, I think someone like Lee Grossman should be able to get advanced notice. Taking that information public, and especially giving it to a PR man with a history of misrepresenting facts (David Kirby) was poor judgment on the part of Lee Grossman. I see Lisa Jo as making a small mistake, caused by the confusing situation. I don't really fault her. bensmymom-

the point is that whoever told Lee Grossman about these studies blew it. That’s why I started and ended the post with that information.

Whoever did that broke the embargo. Personally, I think someone like Lee Grossman should be able to get advanced notice. Taking that information public, and especially giving it to a PR man with a history of misrepresenting facts (David Kirby) was poor judgment on the part of Lee Grossman.

I see Lisa Jo as making a small mistake, caused by the confusing situation. I don’t really fault her.

]]> By: bensmyson http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66137 bensmyson Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:48:02 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66137 So maybe I missed the point about the embargo, mainstream media is upset that a blogger "broke" the story to a couple of thousand people? Is that why nothing was really reported about it? Is mainstream media really upset? Seriously? Our local paper ran an AP wire story buried on page 4. Headline, "Parents report that one on 91 children have autism" So maybe I missed the point about the embargo, mainstream media is upset that a blogger “broke” the story to a couple of thousand people? Is that why nothing was really reported about it? Is mainstream media really upset? Seriously?

Our local paper ran an AP wire story buried on page 4. Headline, “Parents report that one on 91 children have autism”

]]> By: Tina Cruz http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66131 Tina Cruz Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:59:33 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66131 On Sept. 26, I wrote an article as LA Special Needs Kids Examiner regarding the increase in autism 1 to 100. While I first read the information in Kirby's article, quoting Grossman, I also read it at Adventures in Autism as well. I wanted to write a story about it, and therefore, needed to do the research to verify it. My search led me to the CDC website, where I found information that had been changed to read, "1 to 300 to 1 in 100 with an average of 1 in 150" quoted for rates of autism. Since I was very familiar with the old numbers, 1 in 150, I believed this was news. I also found a cached page that showed that the CDC had changed the numbers without informing the public, and I wrote an article about it. At that point, I was not aware of an embargo. I simply saw news that needed to be reported, and mainstream journalism had dropped the ball. I don't know the motivation for the embargo, but it seems there was other, more important news on Friday afternoon that outlets believed needed to be covered. Since I cover only special needs, that was what I reported. Tina Cruz http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9121-LA-Special-Needs-Kids-Examiner~y2009m9d26-CDC-quietly-revises-autism-numbers-to-1-of-US-children On Sept. 26, I wrote an article as LA Special Needs Kids Examiner regarding the increase in autism 1 to 100. While I first read the information in Kirby’s article, quoting Grossman, I also read it at Adventures in Autism as well. I wanted to write a story about it, and therefore, needed to do the research to verify it.

My search led me to the CDC website, where I found information that had been changed to read, “1 to 300 to 1 in 100 with an average of 1 in 150” quoted for rates of autism. Since I was very familiar with the old numbers, 1 in 150, I believed this was news. I also found a cached page that showed that the CDC had changed the numbers without informing the public, and I wrote an article about it. At that point, I was not aware of an embargo. I simply saw news that needed to be reported, and mainstream journalism had dropped the ball.

I don’t know the motivation for the embargo, but it seems there was other, more important news on Friday afternoon that outlets believed needed to be covered. Since I cover only special needs, that was what I reported.

Tina Cruz
http://www.examiner.com/examin.....S-children

]]> By: Sullivan http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66110 Sullivan Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:34:22 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66110 Alison Singer, Mr. Kirby seems to be a little inconsistent in what his role is. On the one hand, he has a past history in journalism. On the other hand, he goes to DC to brief legislators on behalf of advocacy groups. Alibris books has a signed copy of Evidence of Harm for sale. The inscription is listed as: "Thnak you so much / for your service to / the autism community. / Keep up the work! / David Kirby" I don't know how an independent journalist could thank someone on behalf of the autism community. I don't see how David Kirby can either, but that is another story entirely. Alison Singer,

Mr. Kirby seems to be a little inconsistent in what his role is. On the one hand, he has a past history in journalism. On the other hand, he goes to DC to brief legislators on behalf of advocacy groups.

Alibris books has a signed copy of Evidence of Harm for sale. The inscription is listed as:

“Thnak you so much / for your service to / the autism community. / Keep up the work! / David Kirby”

I don’t know how an independent journalist could thank someone on behalf of the autism community.

I don’t see how David Kirby can either, but that is another story entirely.

]]> By: Alison Singer http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66108 Alison Singer Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:08:42 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66108 I thought David Kirby considered himself press. He describes himself as an "independent journalist". Why was he even on the call that was designated for advocates? I thought David Kirby considered himself press. He describes himself as an “independent journalist”. Why was he even on the call that was designated for advocates?

]]> By: Sullivan http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66102 Sullivan Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:23:30 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66102 Visitor, I don't care what sort of holiday features Mr. Kirby may have been writing. Visitor,

I don’t care what sort of holiday features Mr. Kirby may have been writing.

]]> By: Socrates http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66097 Socrates Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:25:54 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66097 And on the BBC, the prevalence rate played second fiddle to MMR-Autism de-bunking:<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/health/8268302.stm" rel="nofollow">Latest autism figures should dispel any fears about the MMR jab being linked to the condition, say experts</a>. These are desperate times for the Militia. And on the BBC, the prevalence rate played second fiddle to MMR-Autism de-bunking:Latest autism figures should dispel any fears about the MMR jab being linked to the condition, say experts.

These are desperate times for the Militia.

]]> By: Joseph http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66096 Joseph Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:08:09 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66096 <blockquote>The Age of Autism blog is still trying to fan the flames, pushing the idea that the mainstream media doesn’t want to cover this story. Mark Blaxill posted a piece today, Autism News: Pathetic Non Coverage, discussing how his home-town newspaper (The Boston Globe) didn’t cover the story when the embargo lifted on Monday.</blockquote> That is an incomprehensible point of view to me. The CDC survey stories are all over the place. Contrast this with coverage of the NHS adult prevalence study (the first of its kind ever) which was covered by a handful of news outlets, mostly in the UK.
The Age of Autism blog is still trying to fan the flames, pushing the idea that the mainstream media doesn’t want to cover this story. Mark Blaxill posted a piece today, Autism News: Pathetic Non Coverage, discussing how his home-town newspaper (The Boston Globe) didn’t cover the story when the embargo lifted on Monday.

That is an incomprehensible point of view to me. The CDC survey stories are all over the place. Contrast this with coverage of the NHS adult prevalence study (the first of its kind ever) which was covered by a handful of news outlets, mostly in the UK.

]]> By: Visitor http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/10/autism-rate-of-1-percent-and-the-embargo-that-wasnt/#comment-66092 Visitor Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:32:55 +0000 http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=3288#comment-66092 You have to remember that David Kirby was writing gay holiday features before he was spoonfed the ludicrous drivel that he published in his book. He has shown himself to be quite without any ethical standards or professional disclipline. He's a grubby opportunist, who would not only betray an embargo, but then make up a story to insinuate that it was imposed for some improper reason. You have to remember that David Kirby was writing gay holiday features before he was spoonfed the ludicrous drivel that he published in his book. He has shown himself to be quite without any ethical standards or professional disclipline. He’s a grubby opportunist, who would not only betray an embargo, but then make up a story to insinuate that it was imposed for some improper reason.

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