2002 Jan 29
Here is another drop. A small gain after years of my trying
with this newspaper.
---------------------------
Subj: RE: Reporting metric
Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 9:49:05
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
You are correct. We should have followed our own AP stylebook, which
requires that we use metric if the original measure was metric and put miles
in parentheses as needed. We will reinforce this with all editors. Thanks
for being such a careful reader.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 3:46 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Reporting metric
>
> 2002 January 25
> Colleen Conant, Editor
> The Daily Camera
>
> Dear Ms. Conant:
> On January 21 you reported, on page 2B, the distance to the
> moon as 238,700 miles. I object to miles. The measurement
> was made in kilometers. Your readers need to know that the
> work was done in kilometers. Do you want your readers to think
> the scientists in this town are not into the modern world? You
> are supposed to report the news, not distort it as you see fit.
> If you want to distort, put it on the editorial page. You mislead
> your readers by using miles. Where did you get this policy of
> rewriting the news?
>
> In previous years the Camera has told me that your readers are
> too stupid to understand metric units. Where did you get this
> idea? They all read their vitamin bottles with milligrams on
> the labels and do not object. You said readers complain. OK,
> tell me the names of the complainers so I can try to help them.
>
> Some people say the media (that's you) are the real agents keeping
> the USA out of the modern world of metric measures. For
> example, I copy here an e-mail letter from Australia:
>
> Subj: [USMA:17542] Re: your Idea to make people aware of
> the need of metrication
> Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 13:07:38
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Dear All,
> It is an interesting point that the media were clear losers - by
> many years - in metrication in Australia. Journalists were
> extremely slow to adopt metric units in their work, and they
> were (and some still are) a constant source of frustration to
> the Australian metric proponents. We simply couldn't
> understand how they could continue, for so many years,
> without grasping the simplicity of SI.
>
> Cheers,
> Pat Naughtin
> CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
>
> Simple? Yes. METRIC SO SIMPLE EVEN GROWNUPS CAN USE IT
>
> Now that the euro is the big money in Europe, the market there is
> bigger than the US market. So now they can tell us to go jump in
> the lake with our inch-pound units. Example: they will not accept
> our 6 foot electric cords on appliances. They specify 2 meter cords.
> We had better catch up. Except that so far, the Camera is not helping.
>
> You, the media, could be leaders. But no, you say wait till everybody
> including the schools change to metric. Well, the schools need your
> help. We all need your help. How about changing your policy.
>
> Please, let me know if I can help.
>
> Robert Bushnell
> 502 Ord Drive
> Boulder, Colorado 80303-4732
> 303-554-0827
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
