×

Being right more important than being first

To the editor:

Congratulations to The Free Press’ Mark Fischenich for winning second place in both investigative reporting and hard news at the Jan 24 Minnesota Newspaper Association convention. Likewise to The Journal for first place in Editorial Page as a Whole for Dailies under 10,000 Circulation. Both well deserved! But I digress to national “news” reporting often published in local newspapers.

According to a 2018 Gallup poll only 23 percent of those surveyed had a great deal/quite a lot of confidence in national newspaper reporting. That would seem to suggest selecting what national “news” to publish is a tough call for a local news editor.

Most local newspapers do not have the resources to independently investigate national news. So when the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post and other legacy news sources publish a report local newspapers, whose national wire services are essentially those same institutions, publish it as well.

My view is when national news sources see something on social media — snippet videos, anonymous usernames, fake accounts — that seems sensational and fit their pre-conceived narrative or bias, rather than check for corroborating sources they too often rush to report in print using the caveat “if true.” If they are not sure its true is it newsworthy? Should being first be more important than being right?

Occasionally as soon as the next day the initial report is proved not “fake”, but just wrong; or at least misleading. A reporting mistake printed in a newspaper can be corrected, but not erased. In those situations was being first more important than being right?

Bob Jentges

North Mankato

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today