Editing Skeptical Inquirer (section)

== Focus ==

The [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]] functions as a [[scientific society]] and, upon editorial acceptance, publishes articles from independent scientists and investigators in the ''Skeptical Inquirer''.{{r|stein|p=170}} Published topics have included [[fringe science]], [[pseudoscience]], [[paranormalism]], [[psychic phenomena]], [[astrology]], [[ufology]], [[homeopathy]], and [[New Age]], as well as articles on politics, general science, cyberterrorism, and others.{{r|stein|WhereDoWeGo}} Writing for ''[[Scientific American]]'' in 1982'','' cognitive scientist [[Douglas Hofstadter]] said that the purpose of ''Skeptical Inquirer'' was to "combat nonsense" with articles in English that require no special knowledge or expertise, only "curiosity about truth".{{R|Hofstadter}}<ref>In {{Harvnb|Stein 1996|p=174}}. Douglas Hofstadter (1982): "The purpose of the ''Skeptical Inquirer'' is simply to combat nonsense. It does so by recourse to common sense, which means it is accessible to anyone who can read English. It does not require any special knowledge to read its pages, where nonsensical claims are routinely smashed to smithereens. All that is required to read this maverick journal is curiosity about how truth defends itself (through its agent CSI-COP) against attacks from all quarters by unimaginably imaginative theorizers, speculators, eccentrics, crackpots, and out-and-out-fakers."</ref>

Loxton, writing in 2013 about the mission and goals of the skeptical movement, countered the idea that people no longer wanted to read about the paranormal, and recommended getting back to S.I.'s basics. [[Paul Kurtz]] in 2009 seemed to share this sentiment and stated that the organization would still research some paranormal subjects as they have expertise in this area, but they would begin to investigate other areas. "CSICOP has reached an historic juncture: the recognition that there is a critical need to change our direction", Kurtz wrote. While editor [[Kendrick Frazier]] did expand the scope of the magazine to include more topics on subjects that attacked science or critical thinking—such as [[climate change denialism]], [[conspiracy theories]] and the influence of the [[alternative medicine]] movement—Frazier also noted that "paranormal beliefs are still widespread", and quoted surveys that state that the public, given a list of ten general paranormal topics, will select four as topics they believe in. While the general skeptic community believes that we should not waste more time debunking the paranormal, topics long ago discredited, Frazier says "millions of Americans accept them today".{{R|WhereDoWeGo}} Even with such long odds against "an organized paranormal lobby, a magical marketing machine", Loxton implores skeptics to continue researching, writing and publishing: "We can't win any ultimate victory over superstition or ignorance, but we can do a lot of good if we fight hard enough."{{R|WhereDoWeGo}}

The January/February 2023 issue featured an article by Craig Foster that examined ''Skeptical Inquirer'' Vol. 1, no. 1 comparing it to the current publication, and found that "1976 principles of skepticism" still resonate forty-six years later "The Truzzi and Kurtz editorials are so consistent with contemporary skepticism, I think ''Skeptical Inquirer'' could reprint them today, without dates, and readers wouldn't find them peculiar." Furthermore "The only out-of-place sentiment seems to be imagining the journal as an exchange between skeptics and paranormal promotors"{{r|foster}}