Comments on: North Korean Blast, WMD Echoes, and Missed News Opportunities http://www.contentious.com/2004/09/13/what-news-organizations-didnt-learn-from-the-wmd-fiasco/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:38:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Brad http://www.contentious.com/2004/09/13/what-news-organizations-didnt-learn-from-the-wmd-fiasco/comment-page-1/#comment-512 Brad Thu, 16 Sep 2004 02:56:05 +0000 #comment-512 Re: Raj's comments, I don't know how much more motivation the news media needs than the fact that more and more people are tuning them out over just such issues of losing credibility by not doing the homework we expect journalists to make. I completely agree with Amy's thesis here that the over-reliance on the "he-said, he-said" format does a complete dis-service to the public, and is just the laziest form of reporting, in particular not asking for evidence for public officials' assertions and then doing a little due diligence on them. If they don't offer any proof, at least let us know that you asked and they refused. Re: Raj’s comments, I don’t know how much more motivation the news media needs than the fact that more and more people are tuning them out over just such issues of losing credibility by not doing the homework we expect journalists to make.

I completely agree with Amy’s thesis here that the over-reliance on the “he-said, he-said” format does a complete dis-service to the public, and is just the laziest form of reporting, in particular not asking for evidence for public officials’ assertions and then doing a little due diligence on them. If they don’t offer any proof, at least let us know that you asked and they refused.

]]> By: Toni http://www.contentious.com/2004/09/13/what-news-organizations-didnt-learn-from-the-wmd-fiasco/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Toni Tue, 14 Sep 2004 20:26:28 +0000 #comment-506 I completely agree, Amy. In addition to your possible reasons, I'd like to add the personal agendas of the companies in charge of most US media outlets. The criticism over WMD coverage does not seem to have made a difference, sadly. Our news is probably more sanitized than the countries we try to 'democratize.' Thanks for bringing up this topic. I completely agree, Amy. In addition to your possible reasons, I’d like to add the personal agendas of the companies in charge of most US media outlets. The criticism over WMD coverage does not seem to have made a difference, sadly. Our news is probably more sanitized than the countries we try to ‘democratize.’ Thanks for bringing up this topic.

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2004/09/13/what-news-organizations-didnt-learn-from-the-wmd-fiasco/comment-page-1/#comment-503 Amy Gahran Tue, 14 Sep 2004 18:37:47 +0000 #comment-503 Yes, I know journalists are in a rush to meet tight deadlines. That's very true. Still, my point is that the approach I suggested (first determining the most appropriate firsthand source to verify whether a nuclear detonation occurred) literally took me <b>two minutes</b> to do on Google. In this case, I don't think the problem was lack of time. I think the problem was a lack of desire to look beyond government officials. Or maybe just laziness. Or groupthink. Or all of the above. In any event, it's appalling – especially with the heavy criticism of news outlets over uncritical coverage of shoddy WMD evidence so vivid in the recent past. - Amy Gahran Yes, I know journalists are in a rush to meet tight deadlines. That’s very true. Still, my point is that the approach I suggested (first determining the most appropriate firsthand source to verify whether a nuclear detonation occurred) literally took me two minutes to do on Google.

In this case, I don’t think the problem was lack of time. I think the problem was a lack of desire to look beyond government officials. Or maybe just laziness. Or groupthink. Or all of the above. In any event, it’s appalling – especially with the heavy criticism of news outlets over uncritical coverage of shoddy WMD evidence so vivid in the recent past.

- Amy Gahran

]]> By: Raj http://www.contentious.com/2004/09/13/what-news-organizations-didnt-learn-from-the-wmd-fiasco/comment-page-1/#comment-502 Raj Tue, 14 Sep 2004 18:27:56 +0000 #comment-502 Your call for in-depth analysis and subsequent dilligebt verification of statements from Govt officials is most plausible, but may not be practical in today's world. The news media is in a constant, frantic race to see who will publish first. Readers/consumers also don't seem to care for or want a detailed analysis, and hence the news media may not be too motivated to embrace your call. Cheers Raj Your call for in-depth analysis and subsequent dilligebt verification of statements from Govt officials is most plausible, but may not be practical in today’s world.

The news media is in a constant, frantic race to see who will publish first. Readers/consumers also don’t seem to care for or want a detailed analysis, and hence the news media may not be too motivated to embrace your call.

Cheers
Raj

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