Columns of newspaper corrections: they are growing and there could be a bigger problem
Before I retired, I ran a business and before that I was involved in politics and sports. So, I’ve been in the news all my life and I find it very interesting that almost every time I’ve been in the newspaper, on TV or even on the radio, my words or quotes in an interview were taken out of context. , or the story was shaped by the reporter himself who wanted to say something, or had some ulterior motive. Okay, so let’s talk about this for a second, shall we?
It’s amazing how many people believe what they see on TV or read in the newspaper. However, I’m pretty skeptical these days due to the reality that every news event I’ve ever been involved in or participated in has always been taken out of context. If I can’t trust the stories I was intimately involved with, how the hell could I trust the story I know nothing about but only heard on the news? The reality is that I can’t, and I know it. However, other people don’t, they believe all that hook, line, and sinker nonsense, and I would tell you that it is a huge problem in our society and civilization.
Another thing I’ve noticed in this age of social media is that more and more people speak up when the newspaper is wrong, and the correction columns in the various newspapers are getting bigger and bigger. Some might say this is because the quality of reporting has declined, or because major newspapers can no longer afford to have the right staff to do fact-checking. Yes, those are also problems.
The Wall Street Journal now has a “Corrections and Additions” column found on page 2 at the bottom right near the ads in its format. This new column is pretty big these days and takes up quite a bit of space every day. It’s the same for the Washington Post, the LA Times, the Houston Chronicle, the Washington Post, and the Miami Herald. In fact, I would tell you that it’s happening in every newspaper and it doesn’t matter if it’s the Chicago Tribune or the San Francisco Chronicle.
If newspapers can’t get it right, and much of what they print is found to be in error and riddled with errors, then why would anyone pay those newspapers, believe what is written, or subscribe online to these publications? digital? releases? This is not to say that digital media is better, in fact, it is probably worse. The reality is that you can’t believe anything anymore, and I would tell you that you never could anyway. Now it’s more obvious. In fact, I hope you will please consider all this and think about it.