When news articles (as opposed to op-eds) offer opinions, they are supposed to be between quotation marks.
When a reporter slips in his own opinion, it’s sloppy editing at best and inappropriate bias at worst. Consider this paragraph of unattributed reportage from today’s New York Times article, “F.D.A. Commissioner and Other Top Health Officials Plan to Step Down” --
“If Dr. Sharfstein or Dr. Nissen is chosen, the selection is likely to signal the end of an era at the agency in which the speed of the drug approval process often took priority over the certainty of a drug’s safety.”
FDA has put speed of approval over safety? Says who? The New York Times? If that’s the opinion of the editorial page, then they should say so. If this is Gardiner Harris’ opinion, he’s entitled to it – personally, but this isn't where it belongs. Not ever.
Also, what’s all this about “certainty of a drug’s safety.” Is the New York Times calling for a Precautionary Principle approach to drug regulation?
When a reporter slips in his own opinion, it’s sloppy editing at best and inappropriate bias at worst. Consider this paragraph of unattributed reportage from today’s New York Times article, “F.D.A. Commissioner and Other Top Health Officials Plan to Step Down” --
“If Dr. Sharfstein or Dr. Nissen is chosen, the selection is likely to signal the end of an era at the agency in which the speed of the drug approval process often took priority over the certainty of a drug’s safety.”
FDA has put speed of approval over safety? Says who? The New York Times? If that’s the opinion of the editorial page, then they should say so. If this is Gardiner Harris’ opinion, he’s entitled to it – personally, but this isn't where it belongs. Not ever.
Also, what’s all this about “certainty of a drug’s safety.” Is the New York Times calling for a Precautionary Principle approach to drug regulation?
