All writer/editors who want to survive must be extremely biased – in favour of a good story.

The problem usually arises with the fact base, not with the – shall we say – “tell-ability”.

But I am hardly an unbiased source; I am a writer and editor.

All writers are biased.

All editors are biased

All writers who are also editors must be extremely biased.

However, I rather wish Britain would reform its libel laws.

Keeping publications on tenterhooks for months is not the way to go, in my view. But I am hardly an unbiased source; I am a writer and editor.

This article was temporarily taken down on legal advice after New Scientist’s editor, Roger Highfield, received a letter from a law firm on behalf of James Le Fanu, the GP and author of the book Why Us? Following discussions, New Scientist has now reinstated the article accompanied by a comment from Dr Le Fanu.

I think there’s a hint in there about the identity of the complainant.