Letters / Partial and misrepresenting
Mike Bennett’s assessment of the VisitScotland report on wind farms and tourism as meaningless in a Shetland context is spot on. (Turbine poll meaningless, SN 25 April 2012, and Turbines don’t put off tourists, SN 25 April 2012)
However, the report might still be useful as a school teaching aid (for media studies?) in the abuse of statistics, partial (as opposed to impartial) reporting of a supposedly independent poll, and its misrepresentation by a blustering politician.
Fergus Ewing claimed “the vast majority of visitors to Scotland do not see wind farms as a problem”, and “four in five visitors say their decision to come to Scotland would not be affected by wind farms”. No such question about coming to Scotland, far less Shetland, was actually asked in the poll.
This document and the political spin put on it would have been torn to shreds had it been presented at any Local Public Inquiry into Viking Energy. I suspect many other studies would have suffered a similar fate, but I guess we’ve been denied that opportunity.
Martin Heubeck
Dunrossness
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
