Friday 11 July 2014

Awesome Ocean V the DODO manipulated information AGAIN


The Dodo: Where truth is extinct 


Firstly why would you title a piece like this with an insult when she was only asking you a civil question which you state yourself was not an unfair request, then go on to omit and manipulate the information?? 


We received a message to the site this morning from a writer for the website The Dodo. In it, the writer insisted that she had a hot tip that Awesome Ocean was owned and controlled by SeaWorld. She wanted to get a response so she could write a "fair" piece.
Fair. 
Keep that word in mind. 
First, the message:
My name is Melissa Cronin, I'm an editor for The Dodo. I'd like to inquire for a story I'm doing about your editorial staff and funding. Are your pieces created in-house? And who are you funded by? I received a tip that you are owned by SeaWorld, can you confirm this? I'd like to get as fair a story as I can out there, so I very much appreciate your time! (emphasis added)
It's not an unfair request on its face. In fact, if she had bothered to read the "About" page, she would see this:
Editorial content and control is at the sole discretion of the Awesome Ocean team. We have assembled an amazing group of professionals from diverse disciplines who are united in the conservation of the residents of our oceans. Our team is built with University PhDs, Marine Mammal veterinarians, Marine Mammal Trainers, Education Specialists, and Everyday Heroes.
We want to thank SeaWorld for believing in this project. Their small start-up investment made our dream a reality. We hope that others who have a similar vision will consider contributing as well.
The truth is, it doesn't take much these days to start a website and share your story. That's the beauty of the Internet. I've been involved in a number of projects over the years, including websites, podcasts and social media groups - all dedicated to marine life, parks and aquaria. 
My name is Eric Davis and you can read my bio here. All of the content produced for the site is done by myself or from a network of contributors that I have built over the years -- all of them passionate about animals. 
But, what about SeaWorld? From day one, the "About" page has made clear what that relationship is. I have long been a fan of SeaWorld -- that's no secret. So, when I approached someone from SeaWorld about a small start up donation,  I was happy they responded. But that's the extent of the relationship.
I have editorial control of the site and a talented and passionate group of contributors who provide content. We all do it because we write what we believe. You could basically read our posts and figure that out. 
So, what about her "tip"? Could that tip be the very public email that SeaWorld sent out to fans informing them about this site? It too, is very open and honest. It reads in part:
Friends,

You know we love the ocean and the many amazing creatures in it. Since you're on our truth team, we figured you are in the same boat.

Therefore, we wanted to share with you a new, independent ocean news website: Awesome Ocean.

Because of our love of the ocean, we provided some help to get the site launched. We need more independent voices that talk about the oceans and the good things marine mammal parks and aquaria do to educate and raise awareness of the sea.
There you have the answer to all the questions. SeaWorld provided a start up grant after I approached them. I retain editorial control of the content, and myself along with a host of individuals create the content. We aren't professional journalists. We are passionate people.  We don't scream and yell and attack. We let the other guys do that. It's all been there from the beginning.
What about The Dodo? Would they answer the same questions? I'm serious? Would they provide the same information if we would like to do a "fair" piece?
Let's look at how "fair" the writer at The Dodo is:
Screen Shot 2014-07-11 at 11.09.27 AM
Every single tweet is about SeaWorld and chalk full of inflammatory language. Many of the subjects she writes about have another side to the story. But you won't read them in their "fair" pieces. That's who they are. No reason to pretend otherwise. Anyone want to bet on the "fairness" of the coming piece?  I could retire early to write full-time.
We appreciate the enquiry and have provided our answer here. If The Dodo would like to provide the same information about their funding, editorial control and content, we would also love to write a fair piece.

 This once again is a downright lie, Every single tweet IS NOT about Seaworld 
Between May 21st and July 8th  Seaworld was mentioned 6 times, along with many other topics and animal related subjects, a few of which can be seen below. 

 It must have taken you ages to make the picture above look like an actual screenshot, and it is manipulating information by omitting things that can be checked out so easily that loses you all credibility.  

 These are a few comments from the Stand with Seaworld site, who were your original fans,  misleading people really doesn't do you any favours what so ever 

''Guys, please, stop battling misleading information with more misleading information. The study shows bottlenose dolphins and sealions have longer life spans, but NOT whales. The original article says that killer whales have "a survival rate nearly equal to their counterparts in the wild". Nearly, meaning not quite. Meaning shorter lifespans.

I support SeaWorld, but if you guys keep pushing misinformation, you're no better than the Blackfish people.''

  '' Here, I'll even make a direct comparison. We all know the scene in Blackfish where that girl is talking about working with whales, and they show the video of that trainer riding on top of the whale. The use of that video with the girl talking about whales is meant to make the viewer think the girl talking is the one in the video, meaning she has direct knowledge on the subject matter.

Here, we have a headline about marine mammals living longer in SeaWorld, attached with a photo of killer whales. This leads the audience to believe that killer whales are one of the marine mammals that live longer. They're putting an unrelated visual with the information to try to give an incorrect impression. That's manipulation ladies and gentlemen.''

 '' nearly equal means nearly equal, not shorter, not longer... nearly equal!''

 '' I tried to like Awesome Ocean but I don't find information there to be entirely accurate or balanced. Misinformation, in any way*shape*form is not acceptable. We are here for the truth, and we will not have it any other way. If you choose to succumb to being just as bad as the Blackfish folks, I won't be able to support you, either. Let's hope it doesn't go that way.''

 ''See, this ruins the credibility of the article. It's put out by people who are involved with SeaWorld, even if indirectly. The podcast relies on SeaWorld's continued existence, so anything they put out will have that bias to keep SeaWorld open and popular. So while it's not directly affiliated with SeaWorld, no one who isn't already pro-SeaWorld is going to take this seriously.''

 Some of the articles are good but how can anyone believe anything written on here when you have got into the habit of manipulating, omitting and using information to further your own feelings about Seaworld?

 Lastly although the link above says meet the team, the only information on the team page is yours 
Meet The Team
The Editor-in-Chief- Eric M. Davis
Back in January of 2013, Eric founded the Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast, as an outgrowth for his love of the SeaWorld Parks that he was covering on a Theme Park fan site.  After watching the effects of BlackFish, Eric and the Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast team, created the Stand With SeaWorld Facebook page, to celebrate their love of SeaWorld and other accredited zoological facilities that were under attack by radical animal activists. Who said people with a differing opinion to your own are Radical Animal Activists?  While writing for the theme park fan-site MiceChat.com Eric’s articles were featured on the NY Times, LA Times, London Times, Fox News, ABC News, and more.
Eric who resides in Orlando Florida is originally from Southwest Idaho, where his first encounter with marine life was at SeaWorld San Diego at 9 years old.  Since that initial encounter, Eric has been inspired to advocate for Marine life, and while professionally has worked for major hotel and travel companies, his passion has remained with the ocean.
Editorial content and control is at the sole discretion of the Awesome Ocean team. We have assembled an amazing group of professionals from diverse disciplines who are united in the conservation of the residents of our oceans. Our team is built with University PhDs, Marine Mammal veterinarians, Marine Mammal Trainers, Education Specialists, and Everyday Heroes.
We want to thank SeaWorld for believing in this project. Their small start-up investment made our dream a reality. We hope that others who have a similar vision will consider contributing as well.
Together, we can all make a difference.


 Unlike your picture above I have left the link to Melissa Cronin's twitter account so people can debunk your picture once again, but your fans are right,
Misinformation, in any way*shape*form is not acceptable



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