Do the newspapers ever check their facts?

Question

I read a supposedly reliable British paper (hint: it says it's independent) on-line just now. The article had a factual mistake in it. I'm not going to describe the mistake. All I am saying is that I know 100% that this newspaper article got an obvious fact wrong, because I checked different reliable sources. And a few weeks ago I again saw a very bad and very obvious factual mistake in yet another popular 'news'paper. I'm not talking of prejudices, just the basic facts that were wrong.

Don't journalists/writers check their facts before publishing it? I am quite disappointed because this is not the first time. How can we trust any newspaper with the important stuff if small but important facts are not correct? Where are the standards?

This is why I take everything- every economic discussion, opinion piece, celebrity speculation and so on with a sack of salt, nevermind a grain/pinch! It's scary.

Have you also read blatant blunders in a supposedly 'good' source?

Answer 1

REPORTERS don't check their facts; JOURNALISTS do. Reporters just report what they are told, and if they try to do any different, they are threatened or worse. Investigative journalists are the ones who most often get the TRUTH, not just "facts." If the street reporter actually tries to investigate and report something suspicious and his corporate bosses don't want it reported, it will be squelched and the reporter reprimanded or threatened.

Answer 2

Every story is read a few times by newspaper editors. A lot of mistakes are caught, but there are two big causes for errors:

1. Time pressures. As deadlines get closer, the chances of getting everything right go down. Sometimes it's only a matter of minutes from the time a story is written to when it is posted on line or published.

2. Newspapers often print what people say, rather than the absolute truth. I guess this applies to other sources as well, but if the President (not to pick on him specifically) gives an incorrect fact in a speech, the information is already out there in public view. People can check those facts and catch up, but sometimes the initial statement is the one that's remembered.

Answer 3

I strongly suspect that the journalism industry is the same as any other at the moment and there are not really enough people to do the job properly. Generally UK based offices are being cut to ridiculous levels just to keep the profits up for the share-holders and/or bosses in Jaguars.

Just last week my other half had to contact a news organisation in order to ask them to change a picture of a kind of pill that had been depicted as something completely different. I am an engineer and have seen how normal engineering practices (checking procedures etc.) have been all but destroyed for profit, this could well be the same for them.

Answer 4

My husband works for a local newspaper and I can say that the writers here do check their facts. However, everyone is only human and mistakes do happen. Check your paper not only for mistakes but for corrections, they will usually run either the next day or within a couple of days depending on if anyone brings the error to their attention.

Answer 5

Only Check facts & sources if it loooks like a case for libel or a court case that may cost m oney. Sometimes, however, the cost is justified by the extra papers sold and publicity for the paper itself

Answer 6

Good Journalism Schools teach that you should always check your sources for accuracy after writing the story. The University of Missouri School of Journalism *always* requires their reporters to read back quotes to the people who made them and ensure the quote is accurate before they print the story.

Now, whether all good reporters do that, or whether all papers require that of their reporters...is another story.

Answer 7

Its about sensastionalism to sell papers- they don't care if the facts add up or not- despite what they tell you. Never believe anything you read and only half of what you hear.

Answer 8

it particularly is everywhere in the information because of the fact he made a international breaking flow to Chelsea for fifty mil and he hasn't scored for thirteen video games or so and Chelsea followers have been in order that proud that he finally did. it may desire to be a clean commencing up for Torres, he could in basic terms shop scoring because of the fact of that one purpose. it may desire to be one purpose yet to him it particularly is an incredible self belief develop.

Answer 9

Like you I get annoyed when they make an obvious error. I think it is usually checked out but rubbish still sneaksin, they are human . I do not forgive when it is deliberate

Answer 10

I bet it was the Guardian that made the other mistake.
The standard of the Guardian and Independent are ridiculously low for broadsheet papers. They really are tabloid in their output.