Greg Mitchell of Editor & Publisher offers a good summary of today's press debacle: "Media Report Miracle Mine Rescue — Then Carry the Tragic Truth."
Mitchell points to this "Beyond the Headlines" discussion at Poynter, in which Scott Libin writes this:
This case reminds us of a lesson we learned, at least in part, from Hurricane Katrina: Even when plausibly reliably sources such as officials pass along information, journalists should press for key details — respectfully and courteously, but assertively. Mr. Mayor, tell us more about how you found out. Chief, can we talk to the officer or officers who actually responded to those rapes? Governor, you tell us "they" say 12 are alive; who, in this case, are "they"?
If we believe that when your mama says she loves you, you should check it out, surely what the mayor or police chief or governor says deserves at least some healthy skepticism and verification.
Libin is right that this story echoes much of the misreporting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It also echoes much of the misreporting throughout 2002 and early 2003, in which a reliably passive media dutifully, and uncritically repeated White House claims about a bogus "gathering storm" in Iraq.
To repeat Libin's point: If when your mama says she loves you, you should check it out, surely what the president or secretary of defense says deserves at least some healthy skepticism and verification. Especially when what they're telling you is based on "secret evidence" that contradicts the testimony of weapons inspectors on the ground.
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