(feature editor)http://http://www.knoxnews.com/staff/susan-alexander/

(vice prresident, finace)
http://http://www.knoxnews.com/staff/paul-abraham/

(Assistant Managing Editor-Presentation)

http://Michael Apuan (Assistant Mana...-Presentation)

the rest of the knox staff if you can find others that may serve us better
http://http://www.knoxnews.com/staff/

As a journalist and feature writer for several newspapers, I am absolutely appalled by this article.

This is the worst type of journalism--not only sensationalist, but destructively inaccurate. The author not only didn't bother to research her topic, but didn't stop to think that, by not doing so, she would cause untold pain and even harm to others with MS.

I think that not only the author but also her editor should be taken severely to task for the false information contained in this feature. It speaks to the poor journlistic ethics of not only the author and editor, but also apparently of this newspaper.

Let me repeat, as a journalist who makes my living writing for newspapers, I am offended and appalled!

I'll agree, very poor journalistic skills in this article.

That being said, in a small percentage of MS patients, psychosis can be caused by the disease or some meds used in the disease treatment. It makes me wonder if that was the case with this man.

Google psychosis and multiple sclerosis and you should come up with the numbers of those whose MS can lead to dementia or psychosis. You can also google psychosis and Betaseron and it's listed as a side effect.

So although the journalist does a poor job of defining this man's situation, it could be his MS or the Beta that caused it.

I don't know, but think the percentage of MSers suffering mental illness (not talking depression or other things), is equal to percentage found in general population. I've worked in long-term (older persons in Mentally Ill facility)mentally ill locked wards and have never met a MSer there. I watched teens and older people become mentally ill and besides not writing well, the person who wrote this article is clueless about many things IMHO. Geez, my 16 year old daughter writes better than that. The editor of my high school newpaper (where I was once active) would never accept such run-on drivel from us. TV and some of the Media really don't know Jack about most things but some people think if it's oin the paper or on TV, it must be true. Where was her editor?

Thought ya'll might want to see this. I know, I'm not the sweetest flower in the garden, but I don't claim to be sweet.:rolleyes:

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008
To: Haman, Ansley
Subject: Message via the Web site

"Your "article" implying a direct connection between MS and mental
illness was not only some of the worst writing I've ever seen, but
entirely irresponsible and grossly inaccurate.

Get more education or go make the fries at MacDonald's. Journalists
have a much higher responsibility.

I have MS and am deeply offended and infuriated by your utter nonsense."



----Writer's Reply-----

"Thanks for responding to the story. I worked hard not to imply that M.S.
caused the mental illness. I told the family's story, and that story is
that years after Greg was diagnosed he began Betaseron. Immediately
thereafter, he began experiencing these episodes.

I appreciate your response, and I hate that you felt offended. However,
I took great care to not make broader generalizations about mental
health or M.S. But each person's case is different, and I attempted to
stay true to Greg's story.

We welcome you to tell your story as well."

Thanks,
Ansley

Ansley Haman
Reporter
(865)342-6341
Knoxville News Sentinel
2332 News Sentinel Drive
Knoxville, TN, 37921
knoxnews.com

WOW, Thanks everyone!
 

I write a letter to the writer and to the President and Publisher. Cindy, thank you! Awesome! When I get irriated I tend to talk and write fast. My letter was somewhat long, but I was Pi**ed!

I will attempt to copy and paste. I went earlier and read some more of the comments and got further irritated, so I posted my letter there as well!“


My Letter:



These people”?? Multiple Sclerosis OR Mental Illness??

This story has offended me and many more people with MS. I just can’t help but wonder where the editor was last week? This is the worst type of journalism, pure sensationalism and destructively inaccurate. The author not only didn't bother to research her story, but didn't stop to think that, by not doing so, she would cause pain and even harm to others with MS, and those mainly who are newly diagnosed and read this. The writer, editor, even the President owe the community an apology and a retraction for horrific injustice done to the people living with Multiple Sclerosis and THOSE living with Mental Illness.

While I am so saddened by this family’s story, the two illnesses DO NOT go hand in hand. Who am I, do you ask? I am living with MS. While a lot of people with MS do suffer depression, so do cancer patients and anyone living and suffering with any illness. There may even be those with MS who are bipolar. Did MS cause this? Not exactly. Although it does depends on what part of the brain your lesions are located, MS is an individual disease, no one is affected the same. The drug Mr. Wolf was on, Betaseron is an interferon and all these drugs are known to cause depression in SOME people.

I believe not only did Mr. Wolf’s Neurologist did him an injustice, but so did our legal system! Bed sores from not being equipped to handle people with a debilating disease. Inexcusable!

This story is totally irresponsible! I am sure there are readers who know absolutely nothing about MS except what they read and hear will now automatically assume should meet or hear of someone with MS, they are mentally unstable.

I would also like to ask Ms.Hamon, Editor Jack McElroy and the President, Bruce Hartmann, did you happen to know last month was National MS Awareness Month? Did I see a story about that? Did you know the MS Walk is coming up on April 26th at the World’s Fair Park? Doubtful!

Why don’t you prepare a special about Multiple Sclerosis and talk to everyday people living with this disease and please do your research!

There is a forum called NeuroTalk in which people with MS and other Neurological illness and come and chat and talk to other’s who know how you feel and can get helpful advice. I posted this article tonight and I encourage you to go to the link I am supplying and read the responses.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread42976.html

I have also forwarded your story to the National MS Society and my physicians.

Best Regards,

Ok this is my third attempt at this I tried adding to my other post and edit it but each time it did a 404 time out error on me, and after just rereading it I see it still isnt on my post,

I like that AMN i always use the phrase or "go flip burgers at bk"

I wrote one to each of the first three on that list, figured it would be pointless to write one to the journalist, and yes the term journalist is being used loosely. I had trouble last night on here and tried a few times to amend my post and agree with bird the manor of the post the conclusions and the over all quality, which was lacking in every sense of the word. Still however my heart pains for his son and that family and the countless others affected by problems such as these, in their lives. schizophrenia disorders are very hard to deal with as a third party, because you are limited to what you can do.

Ignorance and irresponsibility of ones position or title, there is no excuse for this. The tie in that was drawn between the two was grossly overstated and almost drawn to such a conclusion, that it gave everyone the idea that Schizophrenia was an automatic conclusion of MS. this was wrong

I am glad you posted this, makes you wonder how many other articles like this each day get through or reports on TV that are not well supported allowed to be broadcasted. there is an integrity that must be adhered to and we all have some obligations to this, in whatever it is we do each day.



peace
&
keep on truckin

Here's the writer's reply....
 

We are preparing an M.S. story for this weekend about another family's experience. Prior to publishing Sunday's story, we did extensive M.S. research and had planned to do a story for this weekend's walk. And as you see, our two latest stories focused mainly on Wolf's mental illness, which is separate from his M.S. except that his physical condition led to the bed sores, etc. in jail.

I would challenge your statement about sensationalism. This was one family's experience, and as we all know, each M.S. case, each mental illness case, each individual's case differs.

Thanks for your feedback, and thanks for reading.

Ansley

Ansley Haman
Reporter
(865)342-6341
Knoxville News Sentinel
2332 News Sentinel Drive
Knoxville, TN, 37921
knoxnews.com


I'm having trouble with "we did extensive research". I would be surprised if I hear back from the Editor or President.

Maybe her "extensive research" consisted of Googling MS and just picking any old link that they came upon, instead of actually doing real research and interviewing doctors and MS patients.

Apparently, doing "extensive" research and applying it are worlds apart in her mind. I noticed that she's gushing less with you. I hope that means that she's had her butt in the naughty chair up in the Editor's office since she replied to me.