Uranium Journalism

Last week the Washington Post ran a 20-paragraph article about new uranium development in New Mexico. The article began with a three paragraph set up, saying there is renewed interest in uranium mining in the state, that "at least five companies are seeking state permits to mine," and that mining could produce a bunch of jobs. The next 11 paragraphs recount, via anecdote—not data—the purported evils done especially to Navajos by the decades ago uranium mining. After a neutral transition paragraph, Uranium Resources Inc. executives get five paragraphs for the company / industry view.

Along the way, Post reporter Kari Lyderson describes wacko enviro outfit Southwest Research and Information Center with stupendous understatement as "a nonprofit public interest group that focuses on energy development and natural resources." The anecdotes are colorful. "Steers would turn yellow," one man told Lyderson. Another man blames ""recent health problems on uranium." Lyderson indicates without quite explicitly stating that the man's uranium work ended in 1982. Again, she offers no data, no medical records.

Lyderson and the Post certainly would claim no agenda. Do the math, review the structure of the story. Make up your own mind. The story ran March 28 on page A02.