tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11477208.post113640513623654402..comments2023-07-01T08:19:19.176-07:00Comments on North of the Red River: Before we throw stonesCarmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03530338980142634057noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11477208.post-1136477319306528762006-01-05T08:08:00.000-08:002006-01-05T08:08:00.000-08:00From what I've read, someone overheard them saying...From what I've read, someone overheard them saying "We're checking vitals" and assumed that meant the were alive, and things took off from there. <BR/><BR/>On deadline, hearing family members and elected officals saying that, I think I'd have run with the story. The presses were waiting, and you can't hold out forever at midnight. <BR/><BR/>Now, what the company did, not correcting the news immediately, or clarifying, that's unconscionable. And I'll bet money they get off the hook and the media gets the blame. But company officials seem to have known that the "good" news was out, and did nothing to stem the tide and caution or temper the news. <BR/><BR/>You can't blame reporters on this. In a story like this, family members are a direct source. You can't always wait for the press conference, especially on deadline. And if anyone should know, it should be the families. <BR/><BR/>An aside: the local paper in W.V. held off on reporting the good news. NPR asked why. The editor and reporter both said that folks down there have a history of saying what they want to believe, though it might not necessarily be true. <BR/><BR/>Hence, they waited for the mine officials, not the families, to report what happened. Being an out-of-town reporter, you wouldn't know or think about a culture like that, and thus, wouldn't hesitate to report what a family member told you. <BR/><BR/>A mess, but the media didn't get it wrong. They published the story, as was known to be true, at the time that it happened. The downfall, of course, is that news can change overnight and papers have to be printed, given dry time, shipment time, and delivery time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00121638361985412921noreply@blogger.com