Poor miners, stupid media
The AP on the Miners notes:
"This letter released by the Toler family on Thursday Jan. 5, 2006 in Flatwoods, W. Va was written by Martin Toler Jr., who died with 11 other miners in the Sago mine. The note was given to Martin's brother, Tom Toler, by the coroner. It reads 'Tell all I see them on the other side JR I love you It wasn't bad just went to sleep' (AP Photo/Courtesy of the Toler Family, HO)"
I can think of few worse ways to go than this. Suffocating in the dark on what should have just been another day at work.
Over half of the newspapers in America ran front page stories saying the miners were alive. Only problem is that this is not correct.
Now they are all having to say Oops.
Here is USA Todays apology.
Ebayers have noticed. There are about 15 copies of the misprinted USA Today already for sale.
Cable news was able to break the truth at 3 a.m. that all but one of the miners were dead. One day newspapers will learn that since news can change after they have to go to press, perhaps they shouldn't be so quick to break news. TV news and Internet should handle that. Newspapers should A) tell us the niche news about areas and events too small for TV and B) explain why events happen and what is the impact. That, however, would require some original thought.
posted by Andy at 1/06/2006 12:42:00 AM
1 Comments:
An following up on the post ... Humbug, Andy.
To be fair, the media reported what was being said by official sources -- people who should have known but didn't -- at every moment. The problem was not a problem of journalistic inefficiency but the nature of deadlines.
At the moment when most American morning newspapers had to put their papers to bed, the word was, officially from mine and political sources, that the miners were alive.
Three hours later, after most American morning papers were printed, they changed the story.
Yes, it's tragic for the families. Yes, the word should not have been disseminated by mine and politcial sources that the miners were alive. Yes, it would have been nice to have the accurate story -- tragic as it was -- in the first place. But that ain't how it happens, and no amount of Monday Morning Quarterbacking will change that.
And if the AP had NOT reported whether the miners were alive or dead at that crucial moment, most MMQs would be bitching that The Evil Media was too lethargic and not snappy enough. Or if they'd reported the miners were dead before a coroner confirmed it, a whole different critique.
Don't be so quick to judge reporters, nor to lay this tragedy at their doorstep. The blame is the spark that erupted, not the reporting.
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