Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

[Barry Karr <SkeptInq@aol.com>]

CSICOP In the News
January 28, 2002

Kevin Christopher
Public Relations Director  press@csicop.org

It's been quite a while since I last compiled a list of news clipping about CSICOP and Skeptical Inquirer, so I'd like to highlight some of the major news stories from the past few months where CSICOP fellows and SI appeared. CSICOP and SI have appeared in major papers and magazines in Germany and Russia, and major North American Newspapers such as the NY Times, the Toronto Star and the Washington Post. Here are the highlights:

Time.com  Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002
Investigating the Power of Prayer'
BY LEON JAROFF
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/printout/0,8816,193084,00.html

A San Francisco researcher looks into whether prayer can heal even if the person doesn't know he's being prayed for. Dr Elizabeth Targ must be doing some very important work. The National Institutes of Health has already awarded her grants of $611,516 for one study, $823,346 for another. Even greater Federal largesse may be forthcoming before her studies are completed...

Discusses the Skeptical Inquier article by Martin Gardner 


December 14, 2001 
Die Woche
(German National Weekly)
"Der Ufo-Jaeger" ("The UFO Hunter")
by Jochen Paulus

Paulus' full-page feature story chronicles the recent successes of Skeptical
Inquirer and CSICOP, citing Paul Kurtz, Martin Gardner, James Alcock and
others. 

December 20, 2001
The Albuquerque Journal
(Albuquerque, New Mexico)
"the truth is out there"
by John Fleck, Journal Staff Writer

Fleck's feature story Ken Frazier recognizes the Skeptical Inquirer editor's
significant contributions to combatting pseudoscience and other flim-flam.

December 17, 2001
The Washington Post
(Washington, DC)
"Near Proof for Near Death?"
by Shankar Vedantam, Post Staff Writer

Vedantam examines current opinion and evidence in the wake of the
just-released Lancet study on NDEs. Quotes Paul Kurtz, who says that nothing
in the study "suggests anything beyond the dying process."

December 16, 2001 
New York Times
(NY, NY)
"Looking for Solace In a Spirit World"
by Bob Morris

Morris cites CSICOP and James Randi as those who track and analyze the
success claims of mediums.

December 2001 
Nauka i Zhizn' ("Science & Life")
(Russian popular science magazine)
"Nauka, Antinauka, i mi Rovoy Krizis"

Article covers the October 2001 Moscow conference attended by Paul Kurtz and
Joe Nickell. Quotes Nickell, Kurtz, and Dr. Eduard Krugliakov.

November 10, 2001
Toronto Globe and Mail
(Toronto, Canada)
"Channelling the Masses"
by Gayle MacDonald

Macdonald discussed the media phenomenon of John Edward; quotes CSICOP
executive director Barry Karr at length on the skeptical view of Edward's
stage act, and the disgust felt by those who feel that Edward is profiting
off of the loss and pain of others.


November 9, 2001 
Toronto Star
(Toronto, Ontario)
"Learning to spot snake oil"
by Peter Calamai, Star Science Writer

Calamai discusses the critical need for teaching critical thinking to young
children. Mentions Diane Swanson's recent book: "Nibbling on Eistein's
Brain" and notes CSICOP as one of the only organizations dedicated to
promoting science and reason. Quotes Young Skeptics director, Amanda
Chesworth.


October 31, 2001
Cox News Service
(Atlanta, GA)
"Higher Communication"
by Bill Hendrick

SYNDICATED NATIONWIDE IN NOVEMBER BY COX NEWSERVICE

AJC journalist Bill Hendrick examines the broad popularity of mediums and
spiritualism in pop culture. Cites SI's articles on John Edward and Gary
Schwartz's study on mediumship. Hendrick writes: "The study was savaged in
the current edition [Nov/Dec 2001] of The Skeptical Inquirer, published by
CSICOP."


October 30, 2001
The Washington Post
(Washington, DC)
"EMDR, In the Eye of the Storm"
by Sandra Boodman, Washington Post Staff Writer

Boodman reports on the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR). Quotes CSICOP fellow Scott Lilienfeld who states for the record the
glaring lack of evidence for the efficacy of EMDR.

October 5, 2001
The Sacramento Bee
(Sacramento, CA)
"Rumors, myths make rounds after attacks"
by Steve Wiegand, Bee Staff Writer

Wiegand wrote a thorough-going feature story on the Internet hoaxes that
cropped up in the wake of the 9/11 massacres. Deals with such hoaxes and the
"Tourist Photo", bogus Nostradamus quatrains, and the rumor that CNN has
used old footage in its coverage of celebrations over the attacks in the
Middle East. Quotes CSICOP PR director on the shamelessness of such hoaxing.


October 2001
Popular Mechanics
(NY, NY)
"Truth, Lies and Polygraphs"
by Jim Wilson

Wilson reports on revived criticism of the polygraph, quoting Sandia
National Laboratories' Alan Zelicoff of the junk science at the heart of
polygraph's claims to guage the physical responses to deception. Cites
Zelicoff's article in Skeptical Inquirer.

September 18, 2001 
Associated Press
(NY, NY)
"Urban Legends, misinformation spread in wake of attacks"
by Michael Hill, AP Writer

Hill reports on the hoaxes and confused information in the immediate wake of
the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Quotes CSICOP PR Director Kevin Christopher.


September 8, 2001
Associated Press
(Los Angeles, CA)
"Paranormal skeptics to open center"
by Robert Jablon

Jablon reports on the Center for Inquiry - West's move and expansion to
Hollywood, quotes Paul Kurtz and CFI West executive director James Underdown
on the current uncritical reportage on paranormal claims.


September 2001
Termeszet Vilaga
(Budapest, Hungary)
"25 eves az amerikai szkeptikusok szervezete a CSICOP"
by Bencze Gyula

Bencze writes on CSICOP's 25 anniversary, cites Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman,
Paul Kurtz and James Randi.

###

Direct all comments and questions regarding "CSICOP In The News" to Kevin
Christopher at press@csicop.org.