Mistakes, misquotes, whither journalism?
In the past, we have linked to the issue of newspapers copying blog posts and pictures without permission. But now it gets worse, at least one newspaper has written an entire article with most of its facts wrong. DNA ran a story about blogging, in which they have switched identities of bloggers and printed quotes that those bloggers did not make.
DP contributor IdeaSmith writes about how she was mis-identified as Meetu of “Without Giving the Movie Away”. In turn, statements that neither IdeaSmith nor Meetu had made, about making money from blogs, were attributed to Meetu, who denies making any such remarks. Comments on the article that both bloggers left, correcting the errors, have not been published.
While the print edition went out with all these errors, the online version has now deleted the portion about IdeaSmith. But the remark attributed to Meetu remains. We are left wondering whether there was an unknown third blogger who really made those remarks, or was it just the journalist’s imagination?
If this is the state of journalism, it’s no wonder more people are getting more of their news and analysis from blogs.
3 comments
Vinayak
August 12th, 2008, 10:50 am | #
Even Google should be angry, mad angry with the article. According to the article:
“Google Adspace is most commonly used by bloggers to promote ads,”
DNA just broke the news about Google’s new hush hush super money making top secret product meant for Indian market.
Really Sense less article
Just Mohit
August 12th, 2008, 1:52 pm | #
While on the subject of copying blogposts/pictures without permission, you guys should check out http://flickr.com/photos/twilightfairy/2720464496/
Melody
August 12th, 2008, 2:13 pm | #
Lekhni, well written - and perhaps you’re right - perhaps there was yet another blogger to credit those remarks too, hah!
But whatever it was - this is really journalism at it’s worst.
I believe that most serious bloggers would never dare to make mistakes like these not only because it’s so easy to be found out on the Web but also because the professionalism among bloggers in general has increased.
Deep Ganatra makes a comment on blog IS and Meetu’s blogs that is worth thinking about too.
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