Reagan Adviser Accuses Media of Tearing Down U.S. : Journalists Are Leftists and Do Bad Job on Technical Issues, Science Aide Keyworth Says

Presidential science adviser George Keyworth has charged in an interview that the American press, drawn from a “narrow fringe element on the far left of our society,” is trying to tear down America and has done an irresponsible job of reporting important technical issues.

Keyworth, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology, said the press is out of step with trends in America and “skewed toward an apparent joy in attacking anything that resembles the ‘Establishment.’ ”

He made the remarks in an interview with officials of Scientists Institute for Public Information, a New York-based nonprofit group that tries to promote communication between scientists and the media. A transcript of the interview will be published in the organization’s newsletter at the end of the month.

Personal Views

Spokesman Bruce Abell said Friday that Keyworth was unavailable to expand on the interview, which took place last December. When asked if President Reagan shares the opinions that Keyworth expressed in the interview, Abell said: “I would characterize this as Dr. Keyworth’s views.”

Keyworth said the American press, “especially here in the East, has done an irresponsible job of discussing important technical issues that are not easy for the public to understand--the role of biotechnology, for example.”

Biotechnology includes such techniques as implanting foreign genes into an organism to alter its characteristics.

“They cover hearings on the (Capitol) Hill on the hazards of biotechnology, but how much effort in the press has there been to discuss the positive things biotechnology can do for America? Some, but very little,” Keyworth said.

Distortion Alleged

Keyworth, who last October said many reporters deliberately distort facts, said in the interview that they do so because “we’re trying to build up America, and the press is trying to tear down America.”

“There are several reasons. No. 1, for some reason that I just do not understand, much of the press seems to be drawn from a relatively narrow fringe element on the far left of our society. No. 2, there’s an arrogance that has to do with the power of the press. This arrogance feeds itself by achieving the maximum amount of power. It’s easier to tear down a building than it is to build one; it’s easier to achieve power by being negative and tearing at foundations.”

Keyworth said that, in the last few years, he has seen “a press that is not responsible enough to do their job carefully or learn.”