NPR addresses controversy over Journey into Manhood story

Via the Advocate.
Called, “The Furor over Conversion Therapy” NPR ombudsman Edward Schumacher-Matos attempted to address the issues raised by critics in the aftermath of the report.
Go give it a read but I don’t think NPR still gets it.
Just want to get the link up now, I will have more to say shortly, especially about NPR’s characterizations of Wyler’s therapy.
UPDATE: Well it took me awhile but here are some links to posts at Religion Dispatches about the NPR’s non-apology.
Change v. Change at NPR (my post)
Blaming the Listener: NPR’s non-apology
Ex-Gay NPR Report Closets Mormon Side of the Story

10 thoughts on “NPR addresses controversy over Journey into Manhood story”

  1. Ten Things NPR Got Wrong Defending The Falsely Balanced Ex-Gay Story ~ By Zack Ford

    “The nine-minute piece, which profiled ex-gay Rich Wyler and ex-gay survivor Peterson Toscano, had two major flaws. First, it created a false balance by suggesting that ex-gay therapy may be legitimate and is still up for debate. Second, it omitted the fact that Wyler makes his entire living perpetuating the false ideas of ex-gay therapy. Rather than admit the mistakes of the piece and apologize for the potential harm done by it, Schumacher-Matos, Spiegel, Spiegel’s editor, and NPR’s senior vice president all defended the piece, making only very small concessions about how it was reported. In doing so, they continued propagating false ideas about ex-gay therapy and the false balance of their reporting.” ~ Zack Ford

    http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2Flgbt%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2F288767%2Ften-things-npr-got-wrong-defending-the-falsely-balanced-ex-gay-story%2F&h=mAQCDjuUyAQC4QwZ-_3aJxPFJTdXO0xBJEuxeq3fSL1VbFg

  2. I called the ‘ombudsman’ over this nonsense and had an intelligent conversation with a young woman who was shielding her boss’ calls. I read his sanctimonious, self-serving statement today and was sort of appalled.
    How many men must an ombudsman be from any men who be men?

  3. I read another article that mentioned that Rich Wyler and the other guy are Mormons. And that they are deeply into the Mormon Pray Away the Gay group, Evergreen. I think that Mormon connection should have been clearly stated. Wyler and the other guy are the featured speakers at Evergreen seminars etc. Now I have nothing against the Mormons, they are entitled to their religion just like anybody else, but the piece never mentioned that actually they are hooked up with a big Pray Away the Gay Group. I had the impression that Wyler & the other guy were just a couple of “independents” small potatoes small retreats type of guys, And they are not.

  5. One my the commenters on my FB group (Ex-ex-gay) had this to say:

    What NPR is doing is including fringe crackpots as members of the “psychological community.” It’s like saying that the meteorlogical community (including Chicken Little) is in debate about whether or not the sky is falling.

  7. I called the ‘ombudsman’ over this nonsense and had an intelligent conversation with a young woman who was shielding her boss’ calls. I read his sanctimonious, self-serving statement today and was sort of appalled.
    How many men must an ombudsman be from any men who be men?

  8. I read another article that mentioned that Rich Wyler and the other guy are Mormons. And that they are deeply into the Mormon Pray Away the Gay group, Evergreen. I think that Mormon connection should have been clearly stated. Wyler and the other guy are the featured speakers at Evergreen seminars etc. Now I have nothing against the Mormons, they are entitled to their religion just like anybody else, but the piece never mentioned that actually they are hooked up with a big Pray Away the Gay Group. I had the impression that Wyler & the other guy were just a couple of “independents” small potatoes small retreats type of guys, And they are not.

  9. One my the commenters on my FB group (Ex-ex-gay) had this to say:

    What NPR is doing is including fringe crackpots as members of the “psychological community.” It’s like saying that the meteorlogical community (including Chicken Little) is in debate about whether or not the sky is falling.

  10. Ten Things NPR Got Wrong Defending The Falsely Balanced Ex-Gay Story ~ By Zack Ford

    “The nine-minute piece, which profiled ex-gay Rich Wyler and ex-gay survivor Peterson Toscano, had two major flaws. First, it created a false balance by suggesting that ex-gay therapy may be legitimate and is still up for debate. Second, it omitted the fact that Wyler makes his entire living perpetuating the false ideas of ex-gay therapy. Rather than admit the mistakes of the piece and apologize for the potential harm done by it, Schumacher-Matos, Spiegel, Spiegel’s editor, and NPR’s senior vice president all defended the piece, making only very small concessions about how it was reported. In doing so, they continued propagating false ideas about ex-gay therapy and the false balance of their reporting.” ~ Zack Ford

    http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2Flgbt%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2F288767%2Ften-things-npr-got-wrong-defending-the-falsely-balanced-ex-gay-story%2F&h=mAQCDjuUyAQC4QwZ-_3aJxPFJTdXO0xBJEuxeq3fSL1VbFg

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