Wanted: Controversy--apply within

Periodically, reporters will put out requests to help gather information.  Just the other day, I got this one.

I'm looking to speak with medical and military personnel who can share their experience with (or knowledge of) soldiers that have self-inflicted injuries. I'm particularly interested in intentional injuries -- or other creative methods -- that have successfully gotten reluctant soldiers shipped back home or prevented them from being shipped to the frontlines. I understand the sensitivity of this inquiry and am committed to protecting the confidentiality of each source -- and each soldier -- on a case-by-case basis. Contact: ****
D*****  T***.****l@newsweek.com

If you ever wondered how a news outlet creates controversy, look no further than the request above.  Personally, I never met someone who tried to injure himself in order to return home from Iraq or Afghanistan, but I did stumble upon a few women who got pregnant in a warzone to achieve that same goal. 

The problem with the above request is that it starts off with a foregone conclusion--some soldiers overseas want to injure themselves in order to go home--and sets out to find proof, through a mass e-mail.  To be fair, I don't know how many incidents or persons this Newsweek reporter has found to fit the description above, nor do I really know if records are kept on this sort of thing.  Unfortunately, this looks like another attempt at pandering to sensationalism.

Comments

[MJ]

Why does this not surprise me? Next time leave the contact info. I can be polite but firm. Trust me.