Guest guest Posted May 10, 2004 Report Share Posted May 10, 2004 Dear Peggy, I have loved Mothering magazine since I first became pregnant in 1999. I love it for its peaceful tone, its supportive approach, and its gentle advice. I am accustomed to the information being an alternative to the mainstream, and I expect and appreciate that aspect. However, I was really dismayed to read the " article " (actually, an unpaid advertisement) against soy by Kaayla T. Daniel in your magazine. It was a scare piece, an alarmist rant by someone who has an agenda. Ms. Daniel works for the Weston A. Price foundation, which has a mission to smear soy as much as it possibly can by using false information, skewed readings of research, and bad scientific practices to support its anti-soy position. Who funds the Weston A. Price foundation? I wonder if it's the meat or dairy industry, considering that the foundation appears to do nothing but pay authors to write books against soy (actually, alongside it's " soy alert! " campaign it has a milk and farming campaign). The fact that all anti-soy information can be traced to this one source is suspicious enough (aside from Ms. Daniel, Sally Fallon and Mary Enig's names are on all other similar articles, and they, too, are supported by the same foundation). The fact that the anti-soy information goes against a tower of peer-reviewed and respected research that shows the benefit of soy calls into question what little correct information may be in the " article " . I realize Mothering need not be guided by the standards of journalism, but publishing this lopsided promotional opinion piece is the real danger here, as your readers give you considerable trust, and have better ways to spend their time than to research the other half of the story. Please, find a respected doctor to write the other half of the soy story, and publish it promptly. With love, Doh Driver Orlando, FL -------- " A Person's a Person No Matter How Small " ~Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2004 Report Share Posted May 11, 2004 In a message dated 5/10/2004 9:14:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, dohdriver writes: I realize Mothering need not be guided by the standards of journalism, but publishing this lopsided promotional opinion piece is the real danger here, as your readers give you considerable trust, and have better ways to spend their time than to research the other half of the story. Please, find a respected doctor to write the other half of the soy story, and publish it Doh, I read the article as well. It was difficult to find that type of piece in Mothering. As I too have found it a place for balanced views. I have the magazine available in my office, as I teach natural childbirth classes. I'd suggest contacting Dr. Michael Klaper to see if he'd compose a response. Peace, Laura in MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2004 Report Share Posted May 11, 2004 Doh-- Great letter to Mothering! I will be curious to hear their response, and see if they publish an opposing viewpoint (one of the issues I have with that magazine is that they don't often seem willing to do that, on a variety of topics, but that's another story.) Just curious why you said that " Mothering need not be guided by the standards of journalism " ? It seems to me that if they are publishing fact-based stories and are reporting on research, they are doing " journalism " (although they may not be doing it very well). Glad you shared that letter with the list. Karen Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at HotJobs http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./careermakeover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2004 Report Share Posted May 13, 2004 Well, first of all, the letter I wrote keeps bouncing back to me as a permanent error - seems like Mothering's inbox has been flooded! I'll keep trying. As for the journalism comment, the magazine often publishes stories/articles that are written by readers or other authors who do not claim to be journalists (like if I wrote an article, it's more of an opinion piece or research project), and so they do not enforce some of the basic rules of journalism. Doh -- Taking into account the public's regrettable lack of taste, it is incumbent upon you not to fit in. > Karen Hirsch <karen_hirsch > Re: Soy " article " in Mothering magazine > > Doh-- > > Great letter to Mothering! I will be curious to hear > their response, and see if they publish an opposing > viewpoint (one of the issues I have with that magazine > is that they don't often seem willing to do that, on a > variety of topics, but that's another story.) > > Just curious why you said that " Mothering need not be > guided by the standards of journalism " ? It seems to me > that if they are publishing fact-based stories and are > reporting on research, they are doing " journalism " > (although they may not be doing it very well). > > Glad you shared that letter with the list. > > Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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