Another example of media blunders

[Towerpainter]

My Step-Daughter won a spelling bee at Western Michigan U. and the SCHOOL "NEWSPAPER" covered her victory. Including qoutes from HER. One problem, they never interviewed her or even bothered to talk to her! Sounds like the staff needs more time in class and less in the "field"!!!:shame:

[Jameson]

My Step-Daughter won a spelling bee at Western Michigan U. and the SCHOOL "NEWSPAPER" covered her victory. Including qoutes from HER. One problem, they never interviewed her or even bothered to talk to her! Sounds like the staff needs more time in class and less in the "field"!!!:shame:

They'll have brilliant careers with the New York Times and the Washington Post.

[noncom]

I've heard "quotes" purportedly said by me. They usually bear at most a tangential relationship to anything I said. Sometimes I do not recognize the quote at all. And, in more than a few cases, if I didn't recognize the names of the people involved I wouldn't even have the slightest idea that what they were talking about was supposed to have anything to do with me whatsoever.

I wonder how many "anonymous sources" have any idea that they were the people who supposedly said what they read in the paper?

I've dealt with people who lie for a living so much it hardly even bothers me anymore. But speaking to reporters totally creeps me out. It's not just someone who's trying to screw you over; it's not just someone who is trying to get away with a lie or two; it's someone who honest-to-God never pauses for one second to consider whether anything he's saying is true or not - because that concept does not even apply to him. That's not part of a reporters job; the ONLY thing that matters is getting a story that will sell advertising space.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that journalism is the only job in the whole world to which the concepts of truth and accuracy are completely irrelevant. Think about it: The average used car dealer is a hundred times more likely to be held accountable for the accuracy of his claims as the average reporter is. If a mob hit man tried to base his defense around the statement of an "anonymous source", his career would be over as soon as the bullet left his gun.

But reporters aren't subject to any of those ethical constraints. Reporters are the only people who police reporters. You've heard of people losing their license to practice medicine or law. But when is the last time you ever heard of someone having his "reporter's license" revoked?

[DesertFox]

when is the last time you ever heard of someone having his "reporter's license" revoked? It was pre-Socrates. That was the last one I heard of. :D

[dPrasse]

I used to be at County Board meetings , read about them the next day and wonder if I was at the same meeting !

A few of the reporters were very good and would take the time to get the story correct , including the quote AND the context ... they most likely won't go far in their field ...