The last bastion of credible journalism no longer exists.
The famed copy desk, the last defense before going to print — once known at major metropolitan and many smaller newsrooms as having “the greatest knowledge in the world” sitting around it in the form of intelligent, questioning, incredulous editors — has long been dwindling with the decline of print media. The number of spelling, grammar and punctuation errors making it to print has been on the rise for years.
As well, in the 15 minute news cycle, facts are far too often lost in the increasing need to be first, especially when hardly anyone is around to proof a reporter’s copy.
At least in online versions of those stories the mess ups can be fixed, once identified.
But, the icing on the cake came today when The Baltimore Sun, with a storied history since 1837, ran an article quoting an infamous character from a sixth grade schoolyard joke, around at least since I attended Longfellow Elementary in Whittier in the 1970s:
Crowds gather to support, protest Donald Trump on Eastern Shore
Supporters of Donald Trump came to Stephen Decatur High School on Wednesday excited, they said, at the opportunity to hear the Republican presidential front-runner without the filter of the news media.
They described the real estate developer and reality show star as a candidate who could unite the country.
Jack Mehoff, 19, praised Trump as a “hardworking, smart individual that wants the best for all people in this country that are allowed to be here.”
A few hundred protesters massed in the parking lot of a shuttered Harley-Davidson dealership to decry what they called Trump’s hateful message.
I’m not sure the reporter really knows Jack. But, in anticipation of at least an online correction to the story, here’s a screen shot:
click for a larger version
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This article is somewhat of a tribute to my friend Pete Kanelos, who passed away the night before last following a battle with cancer. Pete, a stickler for detail and accuracy, would have been the first to share this story with me, while laughing at the ridiculousness of it and asking how anyone could have possibly allowed the piece to make it to publication. I miss you, Pete.
Comments 6
The decline in journalistic standards is but a part of the general decline of literature.
And how could it be otherwise in a society dedicated almost exclusively to business and science–means rather than ends?
Sadly, we’ve forgotten that no amount of “how” can ever substitute for “why.”
I’m in the dark on this one. Can anyone give me a hand?
Jack Me Off is the latest incarnation of a gent who sent letters to the U-T sports section when I worked on the desk in 1999-2003 era. One signed letter made it into print — from Heywood Jablome. Say it aloud slowly and quietly.
Can I “Like” Ken’s comment somewhere?
Given my colorful history with MY name, I’m sympathetic to these unfortunately named fellows.
But my FAVORITE U-T letterwriter name was Randy Dick — back in the 1980’s, I think. Naturally, I had assumed the name was bogus. But I checked the ROV and there he was!
Indeed, he wrote SEVERAL letters that were published. And back then, they paper would CALL the letterwriter to verify they wrote the submitted missive.