[Vision2020] Journalistic integrity

Sunil Ramalingam sunilramalingam@hotmail.com
Tue, 28 Oct 2003 11:47:07 -0800


<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>
<P>Greg,</P>
<P>Last summer when the NYT was being excoriated for the reporting of Jayson Blair, I thought to myself - well, that's not entirely true, I also blabbed this at friends - 'Why isn't the same criticism directed at Judith Miller's reporting on Hussein and WsMD?'&nbsp; </P>
<P>Seems to me both her reporting as well as the decision of the Times to publish her unconfirmed stories early in the war were abysmal.</P>
<P>Sunil Ramalingam</P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: Greg Burton <GBURTON@SLTRIB.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: Douglas <DOUGWILS@MOSCOW.COM>, <VISION2020@MOSCOW.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Journalistic integrity 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 12:05:50 -0700 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; I have been reading this thread, albeit probably only the bottom half, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;with some bemusement. So, I pulled up the Spokesman web copy of the article 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;by daily news scribe Alexis Bacharach. The web version may differ from the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;print version, or even the version that ran in the DNews because different 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;editors often make changes later, even from versions shipped whole over the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;AP news wire. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; That being said, the web version today says "the Christ Church-sponsored 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;conference in February during which the authors will discuss history and 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;slavery." That's not the exact quote Doug W. writes below. And it makes a 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;clear distinction. The Spokesman web version of the DNews story also conveys 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the idea that Sanchez believes Wilson and Wilkins "seek to provide a 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;biblical defense of slavery" in their book, not that they will do so at the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;"History Conference." Another important distinction. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; My question is will Wilson and Wilkins discuss slavery or will they not? 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; If so, the article is accurate in my mind. Many times, too, a journalist 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;will get a tip about something, examine the veracity and go with the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;information if they can confirm it elsewhere. Maybe that happened in this 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;instance. If not, there should be a simple correction or clarification. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; Further, the "journalistic integrity" slug to this thread is a red 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;herring. The New York Times incident was about integrity and ethics, this 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;seems more like quibbling. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;cheers, greg burton 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;on 10/28/03 10:18 AM, Douglas at dougwils@moscow.com wrote: 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Visionaries, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; The more I meditate on this farrago of nonsense, the more curiouser I get. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; If I understood Bill London's argument correctly, he is saying that the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Daily News did not err in saying that our conference is on slavery because 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I co-wrote a booklet with Steve Wilkins on slavery about seven years ago. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; This means that the conference is also on baptism, the sacraments, and the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; visible/invisible church distinction because I did a conference together 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; with Wilkins in 2002 on those very topics. We two must talk about the same 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; thing every time we appear together, musn't we? No, wait, ACTUALLY the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; conference is about biblical hospitality because Steve wrote a book on that 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; topic that was published by Canon Press, and Canon Press has ties to Christ 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Church, which I pastor. By this means, the conference is allowed to be 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; about anything except what the conference brochure says that it is about. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Look, this is not difficult. It is not something that should be allowed to 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; be politicized. Let me quote. The article as it ran in the Statesman said 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; that Sanchez decided to research "the Christ Church-sponsored conference in 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; February that features the authors discussing history and slavery." This is 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; what they call (at real newspapers anyway) a MISTAKE. It is, he explained 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; further, an ERROR. Not wanting to put to fine a point on it, he 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; nevertheless continued to insist that it is ALL GUMMED UP. This is not, as 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the Daily News muttered into its handkerchief, "incomplete." It is WRONG. A 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; strange concept, I know. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; The Daily News really needs to start an Accuracy Be Damned column, so that 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; they can reiterate their commitments to earlier mistakes. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Cordially, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Douglas Wilson 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; _____________________________________________________ 
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