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DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
Brian Beutler notes The Washington Post has made, and admitted, an error:
The Feb. 12 District Extra included an incorrect time and date for Poetry Out Loud, a high school recitation contest. The contest is at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW.
Embarrassing stuff. Meanwhile, like Brian, I can only speculate that they've "spent the past several days crafting a long and earnest apology for publishing George Will's wildly inaccurate opinion column." I'd hate to think they scrutinize their high school poetry listings more closely than their marquee op-ed columnists.
COMMENTS (7)
I don't expect newspapers to scrutinize their op-ed columnists in the same way they check their reportage.
I expect them to check the latter on a fact-by-fact basis, in the initial reporting and editing, and by issuing corrections as errors are pointed out to them.
I'd expect them to have a more long-term approach to op-ed columnists, to observe the quality of their writing - their factual accuracy, the quality of their arguments, and the degree to which they add anything important to our national discussion - over time, and dump those columnists who are consistently lacking in one or more areas.
Not that I see any evidence that the Washington Post applies such a standard to its op-ed columnists. Contra Richard Cohen just a few weeks back, their columnists certainly appear to have lifetime tenure, or close to it.
But factual inaccuracy and dishonesty of this scale, even in their opinion columns, should not go unnoticed on a case-by-case basis. If a newspaper believes in factual accuracy, it needs to believe that the people who it pays to express opinions in its pages should be factually accurate. And George Will just told some absolute whoppers.
The fact that he got away with essentially the same set of whoppers in 2008, 2006, 2004, 1997, and twice in 1992 shouldn't exempt him from scrutiny this week. In fact, it should call into question his fitness as a columnist under the longer-term standard that I described above.
Posted by: low-tech cyclist | February 19, 2009 4:44 PM
Heh. Today a stroy noted that Conan will be the 4th host of the Tonight Show. I bet they correct that.
Posted by: md 20/400 | February 19, 2009 4:45 PM
I actually feel for them. Apologizing for a George Will mistake is only a hair's breadth away from apologizing for George Will.
Posted by: NS | February 19, 2009 7:10 PM
When can we expect a statement from Obama that repudiates his claim that the stimulus bill will "create or save" 4 million jobs.
In truth this is a nonfalsifiable claim, unless employment falls below 4 million. Being a nonfalsifiable claim it is classified as a religous belief and the constitution strictly prohibits such faith based assertions to drive policy (see the separation of church and state clause in the Bill of Rights).
Keep it up religious left.
Posted by: Jay | February 20, 2009 7:47 AM
Did I miss your correction Ezra when you falsely claimed HSA's discriminate against women by charging high deductibles for mammograms and other preventiave care which is actually covered at 100% most of the time?
That errors has been floating out there for months, been brought to your attention a dozen times, and you have been provided links to the legislation and carriers policies showing you where wrong.
Maybe you should clean your own house before you complain about others?
Posted by: Nate | February 20, 2009 10:13 AM
My father used to say that nothing in the Washington Post was correct except the date. Then one year they included a calendar in their New Year's day edition - and the April page had 31 days.
Posted by: Bloix | February 20, 2009 12:21 PM
http://www.watchrolexshop.com
Posted by: whkrh | August 5, 2009 10:29 PM