Attacked by bloggers

[Jelleye]

I recently did a story and my inbox is flooded with passionate people on both sides of the story I covered. I googled and found my story on a lot of blogs and websites...
I also saw an article in the Communicator...it gave great advice for this...Most of the emails, I doubt the person watched my story because they don't cover specific points about anything...just what they think about the issue and very little response to my story.
I have replied to everyone with a basic thank you. I addressed some claims, but I thought the Communicator article gave good advice on being careful with replies because they could post it on their blog.
Does anyone else have any advice? Anyone have this issue? I enjoy getting responses, but when you are coverning such a passionate topic I think sometimes people have already made up their mind...then to top it off to email a reporter but not watch their story?
I am just conflicted because the story ran a week ago, and I am still getting emails. I love to be apart of strengthening the relationship with the viewer, I just don't know what to do about it.

[Bureau Chief]

Well congratulations for presenting a story that got some people fired up! So many of the stories today are junk, disposable news....sounds like you struck a nerve.

Yes be careful about whatever reply you give.

[Well Wisher]

Direct them to your website where surely your station has a copy of the story online, either video or script.

Nice work. I wish you well.

[The Thrill]

And how about a link for us while you're at it?

[Jelleye]

Here ya go (http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063-9bd94c70b769/133b7c87-c0a8-2f11-01f1-62a2c3708107)

[The Mockingbird]

Ah, the "vaccines cause autism" debate.

The question is whether thimerosal, which is an organomercury compound which has been used since before World War II, is to blame for increased autism rates.

Not bloody likely. Studies haven't shown any dirrect correlation. In fact, there's not even correlation at all.

Yes, autism rates are increasing. But, when you look at vaccination rates and compare them to autism trends, the increase is much more recent.

Much more likely to blame are either environmental causes, dietary changes, the shift in the average age of birth parents, or a combination of all three.

Basically, avoiding vaccinating your kid puts the population at risk for outbreaks of some (previously) conquered diseases, and that's about it.

[ August 06, 2007, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: The Mockingbird ]

[Spike]

Originally posted by The Mockingbird:
Much more likely to blame are either environmental causes, dietary changes, the shift in the average age of birth parents, or a combination of all three.Or it could just be that diagnosis has gotten better, and that kids who in the past would have been considered "mentally retarded" are now being diagnosed as autistic. Thinking back on it, it seems likely some of the "special" kids in my elementary school were autistic, although they were all just considered retarded. We never heard the word autism back then.