Skepter
{{short description|Dutch skeptical popular science magazine}}
{{Infobox Magazine
| title = Skepter
| image_file = Skepter logo 2015.png
| image_size = 200px
| image_caption = "De kritische kijk op paranormale verschijnselen en pseudowetenschap"
| editor = Marcel Hulspas (1988–2002)
Rob Nanninga (2002–2014)
Hans van Maanen (2014–){{Cite web |url=http://www.skepsis.nl/blog/2014/12/hans-van-maanen-nieuwe-hoofdredacteur-van-skepter/ |title=Hans van Maanen nieuwe hoofdredacteur van Skepter |author=Pepijn van Erp |work=Skepsis Blog |publisher=Stichting Skepsis |date=18 December 2014 |accessdate=18 December 2014 |language=nl}}
| editor_title = Editor-in-chief
| frequency = Quarterly (1988–2006)
Semi-annually (2007–present)
| category = Scientific skepticism
| circulation = 2900 (2300 paid)
| publisher = Stichting Skepsis
| firstdate = March 1, 1988
| country = Netherlands
| based =
| language = Dutch
| website = {{URL|http://skepsis.nl/tijdschrift-skepter/}}
| issn = 0921-5085
}}
Skepter is a popular science magazine of the Dutch skeptical foundation Stichting Skepsis. It describes paranormal or controversial theories and methods from a skeptical perspective.
History
In its first issue, the contemporary president of Stichting Skepsis, astronomer Cornelis de Jager, wrote that the paper "could fulfill a useful task in explaining many seemingly miraculous things, and consequently to the clarification of the misconceptions that exist in many people's minds. Education of a hopefully large audience is the first and foremost task of our magazine."{{Cite journal |last=de Jager |first=Cornelis |date=1 March 1988 |title=Is Para-wetenschap ook wetenschap? Een inleiding |journal=Skepter |publisher=Stichting Skepsis |volume=1 |issue=1 |language=nl}} From 1988 until 2002, astronomer {{ill|Marcel Hulspas|nl}} was editor-in-chief, and when he was succeeded by Rob Nanninga, the magazine first appeared in colour. In 2007, to reduce costs, increase accessibility and facilitate production and distribution, Skepter has been concentrated more and more on the Internet. In that year, the frequency of Skepter was reduced from quarterly to semi-annually. On the other hand, its size grew from 20 pages per issue in 1988 to 48 in 2014. During Nanninga's editorship (2002–2014), the number of subscribers increased from about 1500 to 2200.{{Cite journal |last=Nienhuys |first=Jan Willem |author-link=Jan Willem Nienhuys |date=January 2015 |title=In memoriam Rob Nanninga |journal=Skepter |publisher=Stichting Skepsis |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=41 |language=nl}}
After Nanninga's death in May 2014, he was succeeded as editor-in-chief by science journalist Hans van Maanen in December. The layout was revamped, and since 2016 Skepter has been issued four times a year again, as was the case before 2007.{{Cite journal|last1=Israel|first1=Frank Pieter|last2=Nienhuys|first2=Jan Willem|author-link2=Jan Willem Nienhuys|date=January 2015|title=Hans van Maanen hoofdredacteur Skepter|journal=Skepter|language=nl|publisher=Stichting Skepsis|volume=27|issue=1|pages=42|author-link1=Frank Pieter Israel}} Since September 2017, the staff consists of editor-in-chief Hans van Maanen and editors Pepijn van Erp and CSI fellow Jan Willem Nienhuys.{{Cite web|url=http://skepsis.nl/tijdschrift-skepter/|title=Skepter: een tijdschrift over pseudowetenschap|work=Stichting Skepsis website|publisher=Stichting Skepsis|language=nl|accessdate=18 December 2014}} The paid circulation is more than 2300, the total circulation is at 2900.
Contents
The magazine deals with topics such as alternative medicine, magic and the paranormal. Examples include medical claims in reflexology, 9/11 conspiracy theories, tidal forces, the hype surrounding the popular book The Secret, forged doctorates from non-existent universities, the "ridiculous" verdict by an Amsterdam judge that the Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij could not label orthomanual therapist M. Sickesz a "quack"{{Cite news |url=https://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/4561/Wetenschap/article/detail/842323/2007/09/22/Sceptisch-over-nepdoctors.dhtml |title=Sceptisch over nepdoctors |author=Martijn van Calmthout |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=22 September 2007 |accessdate=24 August 2014|language=nl}} (later overturned{{Cite news |url=http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/08/dutch-sceptics-have-bogus-libel.html |title=Dutch Sceptics Have 'Bogus' Libel Decision Overturned On Human Rights Grounds |author=Andy Lewis |publisher=The Quackometer |date=3 August 2009 |accessdate=16 May 2014}}), iridology, Bach flower remedies, ayurveda, Aqua Detox, magnet therapy applied kinesiology, bioresonance therapy, acupuncture and reiki. Moreover, attention is given to clairvoyance, parapsychology, auras and dowsing, but also to Egyptian pyramids, aliens, crop circles and UFOs. Although Nanninga said that practices such as forging doctorates are a disgrace, he emphasised that (writing about) critical thinking can be interesting.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://www.skepsis.nl/skepindx.html Online article index]
{{Skeptical magazines}}
Category:1988 establishments in the Netherlands
Category:Dutch-language magazines
Category:Science and technology magazines published in the Netherlands
Category:Magazines established in 1988
Category:Scientific skepticism mass media