Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Craig's newpaper reported: "The story we published, from the Associated Press, quoted the governor of West Virginia and a high-level state official, both on the record, saying 12 miners were alive and being examined. Relatives were celebrating and singing hymns. The story noted that the mine owner, International Coal Group Inc., had not confirmed that the miners were alive. But neither had company officials done anything to contradict the reports - and it appears they took several hours to set the record straight." True, one would be tempted to accept what the state's governor said as truth regarding the matter. While the first-edition stories were incorrect, nonetheless, that would seem to make the story less wantonly sloppy. Do note, however, that the mining company's spokesman did NOT proclaim there were survivors. Nope. -Chris Lawson -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Craig Zeni <clzeni@mindspring.com> > > On Jan 4, 2006, at 1:54 PM, mcyclwritr@comcast.net wrote: > > > This exactly the sort of NYT apologist retort I anticipated. That's > > why my original post included a whiff of Basic Reporting 101, which, > > predictably, is missing from your reply. > > > > How do you know what the "mining company told family members and > > others?" Was it broadcast on TV? Did you see actual, talking-head > > footage? Did that talking head say to the effect of "It has been > > confirmed that rescuers have reached 12 surviving miners?" If so, I > > defer to you. I didn't see it. Further, who is a "mining company?" How > > can a company speak? It speaks through a spokesman. Who is that > > person? What, exactly, did he say? Report it, wrapped it in quotation > > marks. > > > > And that's just part of why this particular misreporting debacle is so > > embarrassing. Nobody from the wire service or any other reporting > > agency took the time CONFIRM a damn thing. Not one damn thing. See the > > difference? Spreading rumors and miscommunication versus factual, > > substantiated reporting. > > > > Don't settle for sloppy reporting. Demand facts. Get information from > > numerous sources, whether you're the reporter or the reader. > > I believe that you're incorrect. > > From our local newspaper, read this: http://tinyurl.com/7sggw - "The > story we published, from the Associated Press, quoted the governor of > West Virginia and a high-level state official, both on the record, > saying 12 miners were alive and being examined." > > Still convinced it's sloppy? Only if you think that it's irresponsible > and sloppy to actually trust an on-the-record quote from the governor > of the state. > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information