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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/healthcare/stories/anecodo
tes080998.htm

Howard Kurtz's focus is often a disappointment, but not today.  see link
above, Monday, August 10, 1998; Page A1

In print or broadcast media, space, or newshole limitations, constrain the
extent of coverage with many policy issue type, complex stories.  In the
online universe, however, this same constraint is not present.  Genuine
Scientific data, i.e. real analysis, or links to it, can be provided, along
with the glib sound bite, the anecdotal story of fear and shame, the
emotional "good story".....

"Horror Stories" are a Staple  Of  too much anecdotal Reporting.  Whether
the subject is spam, or HMO, or privacy, or  IRS, or welfare abuses; the
issue is    WHAT CONSTITUTES EVIDENCE?

In the judiciary the definitions are VERY precise.  But in
journalism,......not so.

    Kurtz writes.....in part                   " Much of the coverage of
health maintenance organizations and their alleged shortcomings is  driven
by personal anecdotes - or "horror stories," as they are known in the trade
-"

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