The Business section of the Daily Oklahoman has a fairly large column today
by AP writer Laura Meckler about the Ralph Nader uproar over New Moms' Gift
bags given out at hospitals.  We've discussed it on LactNet...

One paragraph is a real understatement, along with a subtle (bias,
perhaps?) inaccuracy:  "Hospitals have long weathered criticism for giving
away free baby formula.[1]  That, critics contend, discourages moms from
breast feeding, which experts consider to be healthier."

Don't know if I want to go to the effort to contact her with a gentle
reminder that facts are of the essence in reporting.  A wordsmith should
take care with the words they choose.  IE, experts consider the world to be
round, or experts consider oxygen to be necessary to breathing.  Those are
facts, not opinions.  Just as breastfeeding *is* healthier.  Or to be even
more accurate (since we are striving for accuracy) artificial infant
feeding formulas are not healthy for infants.

And the word discourage?  Perhaps sabotage would be a better, more accurate
choice, or even *undermine*.

sigh...

[1] yup, they've weathered the criticism all right, and keep doing it in
spite of it.  (footnote is mine.)

Trish Kuper, MEd
[log in to unmask]
Oklahoma City, OK

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