Reuters’ journalist Carey Gillam has covered issues surrounding genetically modified foods for the past 16 years, no easy task with the growing GMO controversy and its polarized pro- and anti-GMO perspectives. But Gillam’s reporting has been balanced and objective, giving both sides equal treatment. Unfortunately, GMO proponents object to Gillam’s balanced reporting and have pressured her editors at Reuters to remove her from covering GMO topics and to even fire her.
In an attack on Gillam’s April 9th article, Val Giddings, former executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), accuses Gillam of fueling the “astroturf” anti-GMO campaign with her articles. The website, Academics Review, which is co-founded by Bruce Chassy, a retired professor of food science at the University of Illinois, has published articles attacking Gillam’s coverage. One article, “Reuters’ Gillam earns failing grade, again, for coverage of GMO science issues,” featured a big red “F” over her article. Keith Kloor, who writes for Discover magazine’s “Collide-a-Scape” blog, also attacks Gillam. On Twitter, Kloor accused Gillam, “You are willfully ignoring the scientific consensus on [GM crop safety].” Jon Entine, executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, has written about Gillam: “This writer is known for her sloppy and biased writing.”
In a blog, Giddings suggested that Reuters move Gillam to a “beat that would give her less opportunity to exercise the prejudices she is obviously unwilling to check.” I contacted Reuters to ask about pressure from GMO proponents, and a Reuters’ spokesperson responded: “We stand by our coverage.” I then asked if Gillam would be removed from covering GMO issues, and Reuters didn’t respond.
The question is: Will Reuters show journalistic integrity by keeping Gillam on the GMO “beat” or will they succumb to industry bullying? The latter would be a loss to balanced journalism and encourage GMO proponents to attack and smear other journalists who provide both sides to the GMO controversy. Let’s hope Reuters does the former.
Read the full, original article: Biotech’s Assault On Balanced Journalism
