[Billthedrill]

In Mr. Pinker’s view, the annual announcement is a publicity stunt that demeans the scientific community and makes the world seem more dangerous than it actually is.

Mr. Pinker is correct. I don't know if "successful" properly describes a PR stunt where (1) the clock isn't a clock, (2) the minutes aren't minutes, and (3) the "atomic scientists" are political activists who couldn't tell you the difference between beta decay and a dead cat. And (4) that everybody knows it and has for decades. The word that describes a clock that shows five minutes to twelve for fifty years is "broken".

[KarlInOhio]

(3) the "atomic scientists" are political activists who couldn't tell you the difference between beta decay and a dead cat.

A good reason to douse any dead cat you find with carbon-14 so you won't have to tell the difference. Also to screw around with future paleontologists.

[Publius]

...the "atomic scientists" … couldn't tell you the difference between beta decay and a dead cat.

A real atomic scientist would tell you that the cat could be both dead and alive at the same time.