[Foundation-l] Paid editing, was Re: Ban and moderate

[SlimVirgin]

On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 00:02, Fred Bauder <fredbaud at fairpoint.net> wrote:
> So, to take a random example that I have not looked at, what would a
> public relations firm hired by the maker of Lipitor be trying to
> accomplish?

Someone working for the company that makes Lipitor would try to stop
mainstream media sources being used in the article, because it's the
media that has been pointing out problems with these drugs. And that's
exactly what happens on these articles, but it's unfortunately
Wikipedians who are doing it. Their motives are good -- to keep out
nonsense -- but the effect is to turn those articles into something
the manufacturers and their PR people would be very happy with.

Look at our article -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atorvastatin There
is criticism, no mention of how much money the drug is making for the
company, no mention of how widespread and unquestioned the
prescription of these drugs is. And I know from experience at another
statin article that it would be very difficult to add this material.

Some examples of the criticism available in the media, which you
almost certainly won't find on Wikipedia:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/4974840/Wonder-drug-that-stole-my-memory.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/5257744/Statins-life-saving-wonder-drugs-or-just-life-damaging.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/expathealth/4204363/The-worrying-wonder-drug.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2498489.stm

Sarah