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SPLC Urges CNN To Retract False Reporting
Despite contrary information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, last week CNN anchor Lou Dobbs falsely reported that an increase in the number of leprosy cases is due, in part, to “unscreened illegal immigrants.”
RESOURCES:
:: SPLC Letter to CNN (pdf)
:: Dobbs' Dubious Disease Numbers
:: Media Matters: Dobbs Defends False Leprosy Claims
:: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)
Read the SPLC's previous coverage of Dobbs' immigration reporting:
:: Broken Record
:: Using Hate Group Material, Dobbs Slams Illegal Immigration
:: Immigration: Getting the Facts Straight
Talk It Out
- What is leprosy? Why are people afraid of it?
- Do you think immigrants will be treated worse because of what Lou Dobbs has said? How?
- Why is it important that journalists, both local and national, report accurate information? What must journalists do to ensure their reporting is accurate?
- Has Dobbs has used so-called facts from hate groups to substantiate his reporting? Why?
- Which reporter confronted Dobbs about his leprosy claims? How did Dobbs respond?
- What is the SPLC asking CNN to do? Do you agree?
- Have you heard any myths about immigrants? If so, how did you respond?
Follow-Up Activity
As Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) suggests, contact Lou Dobbs and tell him that linking leprosy to undocumented workers is inaccurate and unfair.
Let CNN know how damaging inaccurate reporting can be.
Contact us for permission to reprint this article. Please include the name of the article in your request.
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