Even (Real) Journalists Make Mistakes

Many bloggers make themselves easy targets for professional journalists to point fingers at the blogosphere as a harbor for unethical/unprofessional journalistic practice. It would seem that it still happens in mainstream journalism as well. The editor of the Tennessee Baptist and Reflector, Lonnie Young, inadvertently slipped into that chasm this week. His recent commentary, Poor Advice, is based upon poor factual reporting by the Tennessean. Without checking his facts first, Lonnie (and others) re-gurgitated the misinformation, insulted Dr. Camp, and then broadcast it in print to Baptists in the state of Tennessee.

I am certain the mistake was not intentional on Lonnie's part, however, thousands of Baptist readers across the state may never learn of the error. At least in a blog, the opportunity exists to correct the problem immediately. Come to think about it, the online version of the B&R has that same flexibility...perhaps we'll see an errata/apology.

Bill Hobbs had the following to say (and it applies to Mr. Wilkins error):

"You don't trust The Tennessean on a regular basis to get the facts right or to represent conservative viewpoints accurately when it comes to a variety of issues, yet you blindly accepted their version of events yesterday. You ought to know better. Like you, I took immediate offense at Dr. Camp's alleged remarks as quoted by The Tennessean yesterday, but it soon occurred to me that he may have been misquoted, or taken out of context..."

Here is some Good Advice: If someone in Christendom is quoted in the newspaper as saying something that sounds completely outrageous. Go. Phone. Email. Ask the individual if, indeed, that is what they actually said. (Note to self: That is good advice for bloggers as well...it is basic, ethical journalism for those who call themselves (or emulate) professionals).