In Austin attending Network Nation, Greg Mitchell, editor of Editor & Publisher, took the lead in forcing our daily newspaper to confess its sins in a failed attempt to add "satire" to its coverage of the event. Here, in today's Statesman, is the new editor's statement:
"Readers expect front-page stories to speak directly and clearly about events and issues. Eliminating the possibility of misunderstanding from our work is a critical part of our daily newsroom routine. When we communicate in a way that could be misinterpreted, we fail to meet our standards.
"Our front-page story Sunday about the Netroots Nation convention included doses of irony and exaggeration. It made assertions (that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi might find herself at home politically in Beijing, for example) and characterizations ("marauding liberals" was one) meant to amuse. For many readers, we failed.
"In trying for a humorous take on the Netroots phenomenon without labeling it something other than a straightforward news story, we compromised our standards."
Kudos to the Statesman and to Greg, who is one of the true good guys in the media business. I recommend you take a look at his new book: So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq." Greg can be reached directly at gmitchell@editorandpublisher.com.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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