Science in anthrax letter case comes under attack/ Sacramento Bee

David Willman continues to write stories designed to sell his book on Bruce Ivins, and buttress the FBI 's Ivins theory.  I thought journalists were required to at least make a stab at even-handedness, but this once-great journalist didn't bother.

Here's an example:  Willman mentions, then tries to discredit, the paper of Hugh-Jones, Rosenberg and Jacobsen by saying they paid to have it published in an online journal.  Yet today, this is considered the best way for scientists to get their work out to the public in a timely manner, by publishing in PLOS (Public Library of Science) or a similar group of journals.  You pay a small fee to cover secretarial/peer review costs, and in return you get immediate publication after acceptance, and free online availability of the journal for all readers.  Universities generally cover this cost.  Paying the cost does not mean the authors  have bought their way in:  peer review can be even stricter with the online journals than with for-profit journals.  Willman has covered scientific issues for many years, and must have known this.

If you want to read his piece, it is here.