Natural News
Type of site | Blog |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Mike Adams |
| Created by | Mike Adams |
| URL | http://www.naturalnews.com |
NaturalNews (formerly Newstarget) is a website dedicated to alternative medicine and various conspiracy theories, such as chemtrails[1], the alleged dangers of fluoride in drinking water (as well as that of MSG and aspartame), and a lot of other similar stuff. Mike Adams, who runs the website, disapproves of gun control measures, arguing that more guns will be safer, and often promotes alleged health problems caused by "toxic" ingredients in vaccines, including the now-discredited link to autism. According to his own website, "Adams is a raw foods enthusiast, an organic gardener, and a holistic nutritionist. He eats no processed foods, dairy, sugar, meat from mammals or food products containing additives such as MSG."[2] Though Andrew Wakefield's 1998 study was an "elaborate fraud," he has defended Wakefield against such allegations.[3] One occasional anti-vaccine guest author is Jon Rappoport, and Adams has interviewed Russell Blaylock, as well as Sandor Katz[4] and many others. Adams has been critical of pasteurized milk, arguing that raw milk is far healthier,[5] absolutely hates the TSA's screening procedures, doesn't like GMOs, claims that CT scans cause cancer, as do mammograms (meaning he hates the Susan G. Komen Foundation), and loves organic food. With regard to GMOs, he has endorsed the Seralini study published last year (in fact, it is the 3rd most popular story on the website, according to its homepage),[6] even though all six French academies of science have dismissed it,[7] as well as the Pusztai affair. He is also an AIDS denialist,[8] a 9/11 truther, a birther and endorses conspiracy theories surrounding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[9] He has criticized Wikipedia as holding bias against "Natural Health", in particular the article on Julian Whitaker.[10] He has endorsed Stanislaw Burzynski's movie, and has, in fact, interviewed him on Infowars Nightly News[11]. He has claimed that mercury fillings are dangerous and need to be removed.[12] He has defended Scientology, and though there has been speculation that he is or at one point was a member, he has said "For the record, I am not a Scientologist. I have, however, had the opportunity to personally meet many current and former members of the Church of Scientology, much like I know many members of the Mormon church, many of conservative Christian churches and of course lots of new age spiritual people who aren't associated with any organized religion at all."[13] However, according to NaturalNews itself, NaturalNews has received praise from Jan Eastgate, a member of Scientology front group Citizens Commission on Human Rights International.[14] Adams has been interviewed by Russia Today, to whom he said, "In the US, we have a monopolistic health care system that is designed to generate profits, not public health".[15] Shawn Lawrence Otto mentioned it--specifically its discussion of the Vioxx controversy-- in his list of references in his book Fool Me Twice, on page 325, and New York Times reporter Christopher Kelly has mentioned Adams' endorsement of Jim Marrs' books. Adams was quoted as saying, “His books are incredibly well researched,” and “If you follow the citations, he backs it all up.”[16] An article about conspiracy theories about the 2012 Aurora shooting in the Los Angeles Times mentioned an article on NaturalNews outlining such a conspiracy theory.[17] Peter Breggin, a well-known psychiatrist, has written articles for them, which have in turn been highlighted by the Huffington Post.[18] Adams was a contestant in the Shorty Awards in early 2010, however he was accused by, among others, Phil Plait of having created a lot of sock accounts to inflate his vote count. Joseph Mercola was also accused of doing this,[19] specifically in response to a skeptical campaign to upvote Rachel Dunlop. After he lost as a result of having his fraudulent votes revoked, he posted a number of articles criticizing the Shorty Awards.[20] Dan Berger draws alt-med cartoons for them, though Adams comes up with the concepts.
Criticism
Among its most outspoken critics are Orac of ScienceBlogs[21], who has called it "one of the most wretched hives of scum and quackery on the Internet," as well as Peter Bowditch of the website Ratbags[22], and Jeff McMahon writing for Forbes[23]. Steven Novella has called NaturalNews "a crank alt med site that promotes every sort of medical nonsense imaginable. If it is unscientific, antiscientific, conspiracy-mongering, or downright silly, Mike Adams appears to be all for it – whatever sells the “natural” products he hawks on his site."[24]. Other skeptical bloggers who are not particularly fond of Adams' website include astronomer and blogger Phil Plait,[25] PZ Myers[26], and Brian Dunning, who listed it as #1 on his "Top 10 Worst Anti-Science Websites" list[27]. Adams is listed as a "promoter of questionable methods" by Quackwatch[28] Robert T. Carroll at The Skeptic's Dictionary has said, "Natural News is not a very good source for information. If you don't trust me on this, go to Respectful Insolence or any of the other bloggers on ScienceBlogs and do a search for "Natural News" or "Mike Adams" (who is NaturalNews). Hundreds of entries will be found and not one of them will have a good word to say about Mike Adams as a source."[29]
Mentions by Scientists
Brian Dunning, as noted above, pointed out that NaturalNews is very influential, saying "For its frighteningly large influence, and abysmal quality of information, it earns the #1 spot on this list [of anti-science websites]." This influence has led peer-reviewed papers to actually mention it, for example,
- Wayne Parrott of the University of Georgia in the journal New Biotechnology wrote an article defending genetically modified food and, as an example of the allegations he was addressing, included a NaturalNews article.[30]
- Maureen Watson et al. wrote an article in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health regarding the HPV vaccine Gardasil in South Australia, and used this article as an example of fear-mongering on this topic.[31]
- Neil Seeman et al. in the Canadian journal Healthcare Quarterly published a study called "Assessing and Responding in Real Time to Online Anti-vaccine Sentiment during a Flu Pandemic." NaturalNews has a long history of criticizing the flu vaccine as ineffective and dangerous. In appendix 1, they outline 20 search results about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine; an article on NaturalNews[32] appeared as #16 on the list.[33]
References
- ^ Denying Chemtrails is dangerous for your health
- ^ Naturalnews: Media and Press Information
- ^ Dr Wakefield demands retraction from BMJ
- ^ Interview with Sandor Katz
- ^ An Infographic about Raw Milk
- ^ Debunking the French GMO tumor study is a tsunami of lies
- ^ Six French Science Academies Dismiss Study Finding GM Corn Harmed Rats
- ^ AIDS fraud: The Marketing of an Epidemic exposed in House of Numbers exclusive film clip
- ^ Sandy Hook AR-15 hoax? Still no school surveillance footage released
- ^ Exposed: Wikipedia holds bias against Natural Health
- ^ Health Ranger Interviews Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski
- ^ How to get mercury fillings removed without exposing yourself to toxic mercury vapor
- ^ Baseless Accusations against John Travolta Demonstrate Cruelty, Intolerance of Pill Pushers and Religion Bashers
- ^ Reader Registration Page which lists some approving quotes about this website
- ^ Health Care only cares about profit
- ^ Thinking Beyond the Creationists and the Darwinists
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-aurora-victims-conspiracy-20130207,0,5313001.story
- ^ Psych Meds and Kids: Using Commonsense Caution
- ^ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/23/alt-med-guy-whacked-with-shorty-end-of-the-stick/#.UUUFFBeG2So
- ^ http://www.naturalnews.com/028006_Shorty_Awards_vote_fraud.html
- ^ Search Results for NaturalNews on Respectful Insolence
- ^ Natural News
- ^ Does Natural News do Cover-Ups?
- ^ H1N1 Vaccine and Miscarriages – More Fear Mongering
- ^ Mike Adams fails again: Astrology Edition
- ^ Mike Adams: Pretentious Git, Slandering Liar
- ^ Top 10 Worst Anti Science Websites
- ^ Promoters of Questionable Methods and/or Advice
- ^ Sources: How the WWW allows one person to seem to be many sources--The Eileen Danneman Story
- ^ Parrott W (2010). "Genetically Modified Myths and Realities". New Biotechnology. 27 (5): 545–551. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2010.05.016. PMID 20609417.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Watson M; Shaw, Douglas; Molchanoff, Luda; McInnes, Cathy (2009). "Challenges, lessons learned and results following the implementation of a human papilloma virus school vaccination program in South Australia". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 33 (4): 365–370. doi:10.1111/j.1753-6405.2009.00409.x. PMID 19689598.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Specifically, this one
- ^ Seeman N, Ing A and Rizo C (2010). "Assessing and Responding in Real Time to Online Anti-vaccine Sentiment during a Flu Pandemic". Healthcare Quarterly. 13: 8–15. PMID 20959725.