Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:25:29 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at worldnet.att.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Spy plane crash?

At 09:56 AM 6/22/2005, Mike B. wrote:

. . .

>I'm always skeptical of reporters' abilities to get facts straight.  I've
>seen too many stories where they got them wrong to believe otherwise until
>there's confirmation.

You've said this a number of times before.  I, on the other hand, used to
work for NPR.  I also know someone quite well whom reporters recently
contacted for comment on something put out by the feds.  They not only got
the quotes right, they got the sense of what was being said and when on to
contact other people -- and got those right.

Moreover, when something was said with a follow up of "That needs to be
said but don't quote me on it" the reporter managed to very neatly get the
information into the article without it being connected in any way with the
person who said it.

Yes, reporters get facts wrong, especially if the story is being done on a
tight deadline.  Pity that you've used that to discount all information
that comes from the news.

Elspeth