"...When a newspaper prints statements as this,without being vetted by broad experts, it can cause great harm..."
Yes, that is a given. It is also the baggage that comes with a free society. A large net catches many different fish.
The argument, I submit, is where is the line drawn in disclosure of information, 'data'? It is not about Trust, but Choice. Who makes important decisions for us? Hopefully, we do. We also put Trust in agencies and bureaus whose mission it is to represent the People. The Client of these constructs is the People.
To the extent that publicly supported agencies engage in spin or favor to individuals (Corporations included), this mission is subverted. In any large group, there are miscreants and those whose mission is other than the common good, it is legend.
Data, belongs to all the people, any resistance to disclose can and should be met with great suspicion. It is a fundmental principle.
John- The Press is a pain in the ...elbow. But it is our elbow. I don't disagree with the timing at all, there are different needs for different disciplines. Ultimately, everything should be on the table, "tidying up" should be open to critique, yes?