Sam Nicholls holds an MSc in Astrophysics from Leeds University.

Sam Nicholls
Leeds

7 March, 1991

David Plowright
Granada Television
Manchester
M60

COMMUNICATION CONCERNING "THE OPEN MEDIA" SERIES ON THE PARANORMAL

Dear Mr Plowright,

I wish to draw your attention to the above series, as I fear a minor scandal could be brewing. Enquiries made by my colleagues have revealed disturbing question-marks surrounding the personnel behind the programmes.

As a scientist with an interest in Psychical Research, I am well aware of the societal mechanisms ensuring that such issues are frequently clouded and distorted when presented to the public - chief amongst these is the high-profile organisation known as CSICOPS, consisting mainly of materialistic scholars and magicians. The aims of this organisation, to suppress and distort ALL paranormal evidence, quickly became clear after its formation in 1976, with a whole series of embarrassing cover-ups leading to in-fighting and mass resignations. In spite of these, their members consistently manage to bully producers into allowing their participation on programmes on the grounds that they approach the subject "scientifically".

Of course it is very important to have a balance on controversial issues like the paranormal, and this was the initial explanation given by the producers Frankie Glass & David Britland. However closer investigation has revealed a somewhat more sinister picture, and they have since admitted that the magician James "the Amazing" Randi will play a dominant role.

THIS MAN IS PROBABLY THE MOST NOTORIOUS "HIT-MAN" IN THE BUSINESS - HIS APPALLING RECORD OF DISTORTIONS, CHARACTER ASSASSINATIONS, SHAM "DUPLICATIONS" HAVE BEEN EXPOSED MANY, MANY TIMES (SEE ENCLOSED LITERATURE).

As a result of his 20+ years of "debunking" (in practice, maligning prominent psychics & scientists alike), he is currently facing a libel case for many millions of dollars. Yet this is the man, it seems, who will front the new series - according to the information, the series was initially billed as "Randi Investigates" before it was realised that suspicions would be better allayed if it looked as if he occupied a behind-the-scenes role.

It is important to realise that magicians like Randi have a lifetimes experience in deceiving people for the sake of "entertainment" - they are experts at pulling the wool over the eyes of their audiences. Unfortunately, experience has shown that these individuals tend to forget that such deception is inappropriate to more scientific endeavours.

I am sending extracts from a couple of books detailing parts of Randi's career; these could be multiplied hundreds of times over. I trust you will note that they cover predominantly his attempts to hijack/interfere with controlled scientific experiments, rather than mere T.V. shows. NOW CONSIDER JUST HOW EASY IT WILL BE FOR RANDI & HIS MAGICIAN FREINDS TO MANIPULATE THE T.V. PROGRAMMES.

Magicians make a great song & dance about how easily scientists can be fooled by charlatans; these extracts make it clear that such claims are gross distortions - NO MAGICIAN HAS EVER SUCCEEDED IN DECEIVING SCIENTISTS IN REPEATABLE, FULL-TEST LABORATORY CONDITIONS IN AN EXPERIMENT. You will see that, contrary to his frequent boasts, Randi has always shrewdly avoided doing this - what he can do is succeed in loose "warm-up" conditions, often allowed initially to help a subject to relax.

Basically, it is very simple to differentiate between a magician and a genuine psychic - ESSENTIALLY, (JUST ABOUT) ANYTHING CAN BE "DUPLICATED" IF THE CONDITIONS ARE UNDER THE PERFORMERS' CONTROL.

Similarly, if magicians control the design/presentation/editing of the OPEN MEDIA series, they can (and almost certainly WILL) ensure that the end-product satisfies their destructive aims.

I would thus be grateful if you (or an assistant NOT connected with the series - the producer's answers have already shown up suspicious inconsistencies) could read the enclosed literature, written by bona-fide intellectuals, and make discreet enquiries to the following questions:

1. Who is funding the series?

In particular, what proportion of the budget is coming from the Magic Circle/discredited CSICOPS organisation? If these have a dominating influence, it is certain that the programmes will make a mockery of fair coverage, free speech, etc. Surely you must agree that they should come out into the open, instead of masquerading under the diabolically misleading title of "OPEN MEDIA".

2. It is clear that leading academic sceptics have been invited onto the show, including Dr Susan Blackmore, Dr John Maddox, both allied closely with the CSICOPS stable. Which pro-paranormal experts have been invited to balance their views?

3. Have the participating psychics been told of the overwhelming predominance of professional hatchet men behind the show? If not, they have been contracted under false pretences and are innocently walking into the lion's den. Surely you will agree that this is disgraceful conduct - these are good people who use their skills to help & heal others for little or no charge. THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN TO BE SUCKED INTO SOME SHABBY COVER-UP JOB TO SATISFY THE EGOS & CAREERS OF PROFESSIONAL BIGOTS.

4. If you find and evidence of a strong Magic Circle/CSICOPS funding, what action can you take?

Please bear in mind that, if my fears are realised, the fall-out will last for years to come - these professional wreckers will fully intend to use this series as a launching pad for future books, articles & interviews; in this way, any suppressions & distortions can be magnified.

Yours faithfully,

SAM NICHOLLS

- Targ & Puthoff, Mindreach, p.182-87, Jonathan Cape (1977).

- Brian Inglis, The Hidden Power, p.252-61, Jonathan Cape (1986).

JAMES RANDI: PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR - Letter to Michael Roll from journalist Garry Bushell, written in 1991, and an article mentioning how James "The Amazing" Randi cut from his TV broadcast challenges made by astrophysicist Sam Nicholls

James Randi - His Amazing Role in the Great Psi Media Circus - an article by Sam Nicholls (1991)