Abuse Quote by Pamela Sue Perskin
““One example was the assertion that a seven-year FBI study revealed no evidence of organized cult or ritual activity in the United States. In reality there is no such study. The day following the ABC program, my office contacted the FBI and requested a copy of the alleged study. The bureau responded in writing indicating that no such study existed. [referring to the Lanning report - Lanning, K. V. (1992) Investigator's guide to allegations of "ritual" child abuse. Quantico, VA: National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime.]””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Investigative Journalism Podcast, 2022
The claimed FBI study on cult activity never existed; the FBI confirmed no such report, exposing misinformation.
In simple terms: A supposed FBI study was a hoax.
Key Takeaway
Verify sources before citing.
Themes
misinformation
government
investigative journalism
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
informative
cautionary
When to use this quote
- news reporting
- academic research
- policy making
- public statements
Key Concepts
Research ethics
false claims
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you check the authenticity of a source?
- What impact does misinformation have on public perception?
A Different Perspective
Even verified sources can be misquoted, leading to spread of falsehoods.
