Article previously discussed at:
http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=13346&st=40QUOTE(tarantino @ Sat 20th October 2007, 3:09pm)
That's Jossi Fresco, press contact and spokesman for The Prem Rawat Foundation, and OWNer of several WP articles relating to his spiritual leader.
The articles over which
Jossi exerts ownership include:-
*
Prem Rawat *
Teachings of Prem Rawat*
Hans Ji Maharaj *
Divine Light Mission *
Elan Vital*
TPRF *
Ron GeavesThe most egregious bias in these articles relates to the use of academic references where only a very limited number of academics are permitted as ‘approved’ sources while others are wholly excluded. In effect a single ‘school’ of ‘religious scholars’ forms 90% of all the references allowed by Jossi and/or his two ‘team Rawat’ editors Rumiton and Momento. These scholars include Ron Geaves who has been a follower of Rawat for over 30 years – for a criticism of Geaves’ writing about Rawat see: :
http://www.prem-rawat-critique.org/geaves.htm. That same website carries a detailed criticism of Jossi’s works -
http://www.prem-rawat-critique.org/wp_rebu..._distortion.htm QUOTE(Prem Rawat Critique.org)
The Wikipedia articles on Prem Rawat, his father, their supporting organisations and teachings are sourced on a very limited range of academics, with the bulk of references being made to authors who have links to the cult apologist organisation CESNUR[1], [2] Much of the Wikipedia material about Prem Rawat is based on an unreferenced biography published by Prem Rawat’s followers and heavily promoted on followers’ web-sites
There’s a thorough deconstruction of Wikipedia’s treatment of the Rawat cult at
http://www.mikefinch.com/mj/art/md.htm Jossi finally acknowledge he had a conflict of interest in 2007, though he doesn’t say what that conflict actually is i.e which part of the Rawat empire actually pays his salary or issues his contract. And although Jossi no longer edits the main article, he still actively admins anything he doesn’t agree with.
Although the
wikidashboard shows critical editors have contributed to the Rawat article, assessment of the talk pages – endlessly archived – shows almost every contribution not from Jossi, Momento, Rumiton and from the now ‘deceased’ Zappaz, was challenged by those four editors, often on the most spurious grounds.
Jossi also promotes Rawat associates Linda and Alvarro Pascotto, writing them up at Article Hub
http://www.articlehub.com/authors/Jossi-Fresco.html.