In the debate about whether or not the government should tax soda, Reuters seems to believe the only relevant opinion is that of one Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina. The news service's latest coverage of the issue features Dr. Popkin as its sole source, and he recites the pro-tax talking points with gusto: "'The obesity and weight issue is now bearing heavily on us and our health care costs," he said." (Get it?)
"This is a terribly unbalanced story, citing one so-called 'expert' and saying we need a soda tax," says ACSH's Jeff Stier. "Reuters didn't go to anyone else for an alternate point of view. This is an unfair, unbalanced, highly politicized story with no new information to add to the debate. Central to ACSH's mission is to go after media when they do unbalanced stories, and this is a perfect example of one."