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Even experienced pros stumble. When that happens, most react honestly, humbly and work to be more careful.
That's vastly different than deliberate deception or sloppy shortcuts that invite slip-ups.
The distinction -- which fits any profession -- is critical to understanding a setback confessed Friday by Bridge, a respected online magazine published by an Ann Arbor nonprofit, The Center for Michigan. It fell for a Detroit teen's tale of getting into Harvard on a full scholarship.
Nearly all online comments sympathize with the six-year-old publication and the veteran reporter who spoke on the record with five people and saw what looked like an acceptance letter. But at a time of heightened skepticism antagonism toward journalists, a few shots fly.
"You now join Brian Williams, CNN and Dan Rather in reporting false news," Patrick McNally posts Saturday at Bridge's Facebook page. In another comment, Mark Edwards of Detroit says: "Typical lamestream media. No reporting, just repeating. Nice."
A third critic, Anthony Tolbert of Fowlerville, Mich., goes with "#fakenews" in the same thread.
As it happens, Bridge reporter Ron French anticipated that claim a day earlier. He uses the predictable accusation as he links to Bridge's retraction Friday night on Facebook:
How do you know when a media outlet is not "fake news"? When they are willing to write extensive retractions when they get something wrong. Accuracy is the lifeblood of good journalism. And that necessarily includes admitting mistakes.
Chastity Pratt Dawsey, accepting a Spirit of Diversity Award. WSU's Institute for Media Diversity honored her in April "for reporting on the issues that matter to this community – including education and the Flint water crisis." (Facebook photo)
Three of his colleagues also post the link on that platform -- including Chastity Pratt Dawsey, writer of the June 27 article and the post-mortem of what went awry. "Ever believed a well-traveled lie? Me, too," her post begins. In a comment, she ruefully observes: "No good deed goes unpunished."
The difference between Bridge's face-plant and "fake news" is the difference between being too trusting and being untrustworthy.
Three days after posting its flawed article, Bridge spotted reasons for a fresh look, unraveled the hoax, published a detailed autopsy and pulled the original offline.
Contrast that with daily duplicity by Breitbart News, Infowars, the Drudge Report and the Rush Limbaugh Show. Current examples:
- "Fake News: Associated Press Engulfed in CNN-Level Scandal" -- Breitbart
- "Morning Joe hosts feign outrage over POTUS tweet" -- Infowars
- "Media Captivated by My CNN Commentary" -- The Rush Limbaugh Show
Also recognize the difference between the Michigan magazine's record-straightening and you-know-who's long insistence that Barack Obama is foreign-born, despite authortitative proof of his Hawaiian birth.
Bridge's embarrassment chastens its team of longtime, award-winning journalists. It's also a let's-be-careful-out-there reminder for other truth-seekers.
Dawsey knows her craft's timeless maxim of accuracy -- if your mother says she loves you, check it out -- and heeded it with what seemed like thorough checking.
“We thought we had confirmed the foundation of the story through the student, and through her high school," editor David Zeman says in Friday's update. He pledges "to draw lessons from this to guide our future reporting."
This week's misrepresentation is serious, but not irresponsible or purposeful -- unlike those perpetrated by real peddlers of not-real news.
Earlier coverage:
Tricked by a Teen: Harvard Hoax Dupes Bridge Magazine, Her School and Her Mom, June 30
