Fwd: Re: [Vision2020] Journalistic integrity

[Douglas]

>
>Visionaries,
>
>Greg Burton asks:
>>   My question is will Wilson and Wilkins discuss slavery or will they not?
>
>The answer is that no, we will not be discussing slavery. The conference 
>is on Revolution and Modernity -- Marx, Robespierre, et al.
>
>>   If so, the article is accurate in my mind.
>
>But if not, then the article is inaccurate, right? And the Daily News 
>should correct it. The real issue in my mind here is that the Daily News 
>is being as stubborn as the pope's mule. The only basis they had for 
>connecting this conference and slavery was the fact the connection was 
>made  for them by the anonymous Timid One.
>
>>Many times, too, a journalist will get a tip about something, examine the 
>>veracity and go with the information if they can confirm it elsewhere.
>
>In this instance, the reporter confirmed with me that the conference was 
>NOT about slavery. And the error appeared in print anyway. And the 
>newspaper will not acknowledge it as an error.
>
>>  Maybe that happened in this instance. If not, there should be a simple 
>> correction or clarification. Further, the "journalistic integrity" slug 
>> to this thread is a red herring.
>
>What brings journalistic integrity into question is not the initial 
>mistake (although it is at least suspect). The thing that shows a lack of 
>journalistic integrity is the simple refusal to acknowledge that the 
>article wrongly identified the topic of the conference. What would be lost 
>if the Daily News said, "The article xyz wrongly identified slavery as a 
>topic in the upcoming history conference." They did that, the conference 
>not about that. Why the reluctance?
>
>>The New York Times incident was about integrity and ethics, this seems 
>>more like quibbling.
>
>It is only quibbling if you don't mind being called a racist on AP wires 
>across the Pacific Northwest. But I do object to it. I do not mind (at 
>all) standing up for what I believe. I do mind being made a defender of 
>something I loathe. Quibbling?
>
>Cordially,
>
>
>Douglas Wilson