February 21, 2006

CNNMoney.com reporter Aaron Smith provides a fascinating example of the press allowing itself to be manipulated: the story quotes four plaintiffs' lawyers' spin uncritically, and cites one neutral expert who gives a theory how the plaintiffs can win future cases (using a strategy that the federal MDL jury rejected). The story quotes multiple attacks on the two defense verdicts, but lionizes Mark Lanier, with no hint that his one verdict is at risk on appeal.