Doesn't the media "fact check" anymore?

Doesn\'t the media \"fact check\" anymore?

Rhonda Miller is suing Governor Schwarzenegger and his staff over an e-mail that they sent that implied Ms. Miller had a criminal record.
Ms. Miller was one of the "grope accusers" that came forth on the eve of the recall election and in response to her press conference, the Governor's staff issued the following e-mail:
"RHONDA MILLER & GLORIA ALLRED PARTISAN ATTACK
It has come to our attention from the media that you can access court documents from the followiing [sic] web site
http//www.lasuperiorcourt.org/Criminal/.
You will have to pay a $4.75 on-line charge to access/search the site.
Once you have accessed, the site, type 'Rhonda' in the 'first name' field, and 'Miller' in 'last name' field.
We have to believe that as a lawyer, Gloria would have thoroughly checked the facts and background of the individual she presented at a news conference today. When one reviews Ms. Allred's background and her campaign contributions, we will let you in the media decide whether her role in today's event was yet another attempt to glom onto television cameras, or it was her attempt to support the partisan attacks against Arnold Schwarzenegger."
The e-mail concluded with a list of Ms. Allred's political contributions.

Accessing the site does yield a criminal record for a Rhonda Miller but it is not THE Rhonda Miller associated with the press conference. This did not stop media outlets around the country from reporting (incorrectly) Ms. Miller's criminal record.

Sleazy or not -- underhanded or not -- wouldn't the whole thing be a non-issue had the media simply checked their facts? Shouldn't those media outlets be the real target of her lawsuit?

Re: Doesn\'t the media

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Mike

Re: Doesn\'t the media

Accuracy doesn't get ratings. Flashy images, juicy stories, and upbeat personalities do.

Paying reporters to investigate and dig out their own stories is expensive. It is economics driven. Unfortunately, truth often suffers, but that is not what drives the corporate media. They're driven by the almighty dollar.

Re: Doesn\'t the media

No argument so far but isn't that all the more reason to hold the media responsible?
I bet they're pockets are deeper as well.

Re: Doesn\'t the media

Facts never get in the way when the media slams our 2nd ammendment rights either./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon6.gif

Re: Doesn\'t the media

Yup. Ratings...it is what it is all about.

Some of the tabloids even expect to get sued...and to lose.
They just figure the legal costs are part of the costs of doing their business.

Re: Doesn\'t the media

I know the web media is guilty of this as well. When it comes to computers, Slashdot is one of the worst offenders.

Re: Doesn\'t the media

You can't trust the news media, but the sleazeball that sent the e-mail is the worst offender. It's a sad fact that most people have to be sleazy to get elected, or at least hire someone on their campaign staff that is sleazy.

Re: Doesn\'t the media

Why fact check ?

Simply make up any rubbish and then print it.

The fines they may have to pay will not cost as much as the extra revenue made from the increased sales.