Editorial: "Reporters" or "Political Activists"

When does the media cross the line and become an agent of a political candidate or a political idealism?

What is the media's responsibility?

What is an "investigative reporter"?

How does one discern "fact" from "opinion" in the media?

Is it fair to present some stories and not others?

Is it fair to present only part of a story? (I remember seeing what I thought was a tremendous rush of floodwaters on television news. However, as the cameraman accidently broadened the view, it was simply water rushing down a curb into a drain.)

Is it fair to slant the story?

Is it fair to exaggerate a story?

Is it fair to downgrade the individuals while they are being interviewed?

How does one discern fact, exaggeration, half-truth, distortion, bias, and unsubstantiated stories that are presented as "news"?

Is it possible the media controls a lot of what we experience? (Staged action shots in war zones are the epitome of irresponsibility.)

How valid is it when the media start spouting lines like "We could see $5.00 per gallon gas in a few weeks because�." (I heard this last week because of Hurricane Ike, but as of today gas has dropped to $3.29 a gallon.)

How much of the stock market, etc. responds to the media shouting and complaining when many times they are not really in touch with the "American People" but are pushing their own exaggerations?
AND
It's not just the news-the HYPE associated in sports events on television is truly amazing (and hilarious sometimes). One would think a team is incapable of losing and most of the players are first round draft picks at the beginning of the game�then they lose 57 to 7; but�it all starts over next week at the next game!

I love it when the sports media says, "Coach, what's it gonna take for your team to win today?" The coach thinks a minute then thoughtfully says, "I think we need to score the most points!"

Yes, much of the media has become biased, opinionated, dishonest, deceitful, and boring. Maybe we should have a rating system for the media based on honesty and truthfulness so we can more easily select who we wish to listen to and watch. We have ratings for movies and for computer games�why not for the media?

A = Truthful, fair, balanced (documented before reporting)
B = Almost an "A" but occasional slips and overly-dramatic
C = Some truths but mostly biased opinions and manipulations
D = Some truths, half-truths, and lies; is difficult to tell the difference
F = Forget it!


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

Compounding Around the World!!!!

For the first time ever, you can hear speakers on compounding pharmacy from all over the world at the NCPA meeting in Tampa. Register now and hear outstanding speakers from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Nigeria, Portugal, Puerto Rico, and Spain. Registration for this Saturday program is FREE, but you need to register for the NCPA program and get your name on the list for this free program. Go to the following site to register!
http://www.ncpanet.org/pdf/conv/2008conv_preconventionprogramsregform.pdf

Ranbaxy Generics Banned from US
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned imports of more than 30 generic drugs made by India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., citing concerns about the safety of the company's production practices. The ban affects low-cost versions of popular medicines such as the anticholesterol drug Zocor, Acyclovir, Zantac, and AIDS drugs. Consumers shouldn't be affected by a medicine shortage because the drugs can be supplied by other generics makers, the agency said.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122158892271844021.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Golden Parachute Snipped but Still Huge-Sanofi-Aventis Executive
The conditions related to the termination conditions of Sanofi-Aventis executive Mr. Gerard Le Fur were altered by Board of Directors upon proposal of the Remuneration Committee. Nevertheless, taking into account the limited time he held this office, the Board of Directors decided, with the consent of Mr. Gerard Le Fur, that only half of his termination benefit would be paid (i.e., �2,705,000). Upon request of the Board of Directors, Mr. Gerard Le Fur also undertook not to accept any competing engagement until December 31, 2010, in exchange for a monthly consideration of �100,000. Mr. Gerard Le Fur undertook that Sanofi-Aventis would be the sole beneficiary of his scientific expertise and will remain an employee for a thirty-month period starting December 1st, 2008, for which he will receive a monthly gross remuneration of �50,000.
http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=571771&categoryid=9&newsletter=1

Register Online and Sell Food to the U.S.
The FDA suspects a packing plant, its warehouse in McAllen, Texas, and a farm in Mexico are among the sources of the United States' largest outbreak of food-borne illness in a decade, which infected at least 1,440 people with a rare form of salmonella. A plant manager confirmed that workers handling chili peppers aren't required to separate them according to the sanitary conditions in which they were grown, offering a possible explanation for how such a rare strain of salmonella could have caused such a large outbreak.

While some Mexican producers grow fruits and vegetables under strict sanitary conditions for export to the U.S., many don't�and they can still send their produce across the border easily.

There are no safety requirements imposed on farms and processing plants by either the U.S. or the Mexican governments. The brokers or packing plants mix export-grade fruits and vegetables with lower-quality produce. The only thing a Mexican company needs to do to sell produce to the U.S. is to register online.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/14/AR2008091400397.html

FDA: Don't buy baby formula made in China
Baby formula made in China is illegal in the U.S. and could be dangerous, said the FDA, after Chinese officials blamed tainted formula on an infant death. FDA officials said some Chinese-made formula may have slipped into U.S. specialty markets serving Chinese customers, but it should be avoided. This situation is broadening.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1130903520080911

Drug-Tainted Drinking Water Affects at Least 46 Million Americans
Testing has revealed trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies affecting at least 46 million people in the U.S, up from 41 million people reported by the in March as part of an investigation into the presence of pharmaceuticals in the nation's waterways. The stories prompted federal and local legislative hearings, brought about calls for mandatory testing and disclosure, and led officials in at least 27 additional metropolitan areas to analyze their drinking water. Positive tests were reported in 17 cases, including Reno, Nevada, Savannah, Georgia, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Huntsville, Alabama. Results are pending in three others. The substances detected in the latest tests mirrored those cited in the earlier report. Chicago, for example, found a cholesterol medication and a nicotine derivative. Many cities found the anti-convulsant carbamazepine. Officials in one of those communities, Colorado Springs, say they detected five pharmaceuticals in all, including a tranquilizer and a hormone.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hozicnCmH9ZltqydDTw3ni1dn-TAD934NAL80

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