Excellent Appointment; Flawed PAO Embargo Policy

Clarification: the embargo on science research results is not a permanent embargo. The time specified embargo occurs a) because many journals insist that the science article come out on the same day as the press release (Nature is notorious for pulling science articles at the last minute if embargo is broken),

b) once the science result is presented to PAO, say HST PAO at STScI, there is a verification and peer review process including the peer review at the journal. No press release is issued unless the result passes that hurdle except if the result is "obvious" such as taking an image of Mars.

and c) the embargo alerts journalists to the upcoming press release. This also honors the policy to allow no exclusive releases and benefits every journalist by giving them a few hours or days to prepare background material before the press release hits the streets. At that point it is a LeMans start for everyone - fairly allowing everyone to have the information at the same time. This is STScI's effort to assist science journalists in preparing responsible reports with adequate background, and responded to journalists' request for such a process (task force over 14 years ago).

In the case of John's appointment there were other issues such as the approval of the position etc., as for any high level job change, that the public may not have considered.

Editor's note: This is pure nonsense. PURE NONSENSE. John's position was approved many weeks before. My source is *rather* good on this. HQ PAO told me that they told you and your organization that this press release should NEVER have been embargoed in the first place. Check your facts before you send these silly comments in an official capacity, please.