The title for this item comes from Lucy Morgan’s own Jan 8th article in the St. Petersburg Times headlined “Aside from being wrong, AP had Jeb story right” wherein the Pulitzer Prize winner and SP Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief takes the AP to task for getting a single and small point wrong in a story on Jeb Bush’s entourage. Also for being less than willing to cop to it.
Small point or not, we appreciate Morgan’s attention to detail, accuracy and potentially misleading information…At least in stories written by others. If only she held herself to the same strict standards.
In her own now-ironic words of just three months ago…
That’s because it’s hard for some people to admit mistakes.
…
In this world of journalism, seems to me we are getting awfully thin of skin when we cannot admit we made a mistake.
We all make them.
Indeed. It remains to be seen how thick Ms. Morgan’s skin truly is. Though a full read of the article from which we quoted above might come as a stunning surprise to those who read our full piece yesterday on Morgan’s reportorial transgressions on her blown Clint Curtis scoop.
Perhaps, as she mentioned while snipping at us on the phone (see the previous article) she really does have “two heads” after all. One for pondering the sins of others, and one for ignoring her own.
As well, a BRAD BLOG reader just sent us a link to the SP Times “Standard of Accuracy” page which lists a few interesting thoughts and adds that one should contact Paul Tash, Editor and president at (727) 892-2231 or Timespresident@sptimes.com with any concerns. I will add him, and the corrections address to the Email Contacts in the previous articles.
Of note from that page [emphasis in original]…
Our standard at the St. Petersburg Times is simple: to get things right the first time. This being a human endeavor, we sometimes fall short.
When this happens in the news report, our policy is to correct factual errors, promptly and prominently. Readers who spot factual errors are encouraged to contact the news department, by telephone, letter or e-mail, so that we can address the mistake.
In print, our news sections list their phone numbers and e-mail addresses, either at the top of the section’s front page or in a directory on page 2 of the section. Readers may also call our main City Desk at (727) 893-8215 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., or send an e-mail to corrections@sptimes.com.
Readers who wish to comment upon our coverage, rather than to correct some error of fact, are invited to submit letters to the editor. The ?Share your opinions” passage on our editorial page offers guidance for potential correspondents.
…CONTACTS…(Please be clear, but always polite!)
Send an Email to Lucy Morgan, Paul Tash (President/Editor of SP Times) and the Corrections Desk.
Send a Letter to the Editor.
(Hat tip to commenter Bushwh@cker for finding Morgan’s Jan 8th article! The BRAD BLOG Purple Martian Avenger Squad salutes you!)
It strikes me as eminently fair that writers or publishers should be held to the standards that they set for themselves. In other words, if I bill myself as a liar and then I tell a pack of lies, who can criticize me? But if I bill myself as a truth-teller then I had better tell the truth or else! In other words: Good job, Brad.
To my fellow Brad Blog readers: Let’s keep the pressure on. Write to Lucy Morgan. Or write to Paul Tash. Or write a letter to the Editor. Or do all three.
And [echoing Brad’s final words] PLEASE be polite! I understand your anger and I share it. But this is a time for diplomacy.
Diplomacy has always worked, hasn’t it?
I expect similar results in this matter, too.
Well I just wrote to the editor and to Lucy Morgan. That article she wrote, "Blogs Spin A Tale of Computers, Conspiracy" is really biased. I didn’t use any foul language but tried to get my point across that I thought the article was sarcastic, judgmental, and totally biased favorable to Congressman Tom Feeney. I said newspapers and independently-owned news outlets are our Country’s only hope to get fair and accurate news, and I said that’s why great numbers of people read the blogs – because they can’t find fair and accurate news in our newspapers and on television anymore. Anyway, I did my thing. Hope you all drop them a line also. Brad has made it easy with the links. Also, Brad and everybody doing research, you are doing a FANTASTIC job. Y’all give me hope.
re #2. We want them to read the letters, don’t we?
re #2. We want them to read the letters, don’t we?
Why? So they can laugh at you more?
Sure, go ahead. Make their day.
They’ll piss on you anyway.
BTW, I LOVE the fastclick ad that appears at the top & bottom:
"GHOSTS Are they real or not?
Click Here to see proof they exist!"
Did Ray make an affidavit from the beyond?
The MSM were invited to this party and they chose to piss on the doorstep – forget ’em. Lucy Morgan was given a major story on a plate and instead chose not to upset Feeney – Florida stinks to high heaven, stop wasting your breath there. Without a Federal Investigation into what went on, it’s a waste of time as no-one in state wants it exposed, including Ms. Morgan who’s job it is (apparently) to do just that. We don’t have infinite resources and I’d wager Brad wasted a lot of effort on it that could have been expended elsewhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the plan all along actually, but I am somewhat cynical…
As time progresses the MSM will become increasingly irrelevant as more and more people realise that essentially all of them are behaving as neocon shills. Their choices will then be to either become proper journo’s OR start blogging because no-one reads their crap anymore. But blogging doesn’t pay too well, so I can’t see many taking that approach – principles don’t buy many Mercedes these days, do they?
Screw the papers Brad, stick to talk radio – at least that let’s you get your point across without too much editorial "assistance"
Hope Lucy Morgan is real proud of that Pulitzer, with work of this quality she won’t be getting another.
Stay slinky, you people rock.
Brad maybe if you reserve to right to "proof" the story before it goes to press with the next reporter ,after all you did the research and all.
Brad – You did the right thing – she did the wrong thing. But after the experience, maybe Da Wookie #7 is right – stay with radio, until some MSM editor is prepared to accept and print your own article – UNEDITED. Also keep at her, at minimum I hope she doesn’t sleep that well for a little while – she lacks integrity and deserves to lose any respect she has previously obtained from the Pulitzer Prize.
Hey, what are we complaining about?
The St. Pete Times published an incisive piece on the Clint Curtis story.
Of course, it is the St. Pete Times of *Russia*.
If you can’t get an American paper to tell the truth, outsource
Hi, Dredd – Hope you read the above post JS #10 –
the Bush Doctrine states: Law is "the strategy of the weak" – so, rhetoric may persuade the American people, but it will not sway the Bullshit Administration. It’s time to start thinking outside the box (but not outside the law).
No response from Lucy to my letter, sent two days ago. Also, no acknowledgment from the St. Pete Times of my letter to them.
And, no response from any of the Georgia and Florida officials to whom I sent a copy of the Chris Shays letter.
Peggy #11 Yes I had read it yesterday. Hard hitting article.
The article says "So let’s have no illusions about where we are. Gangsters are in charge".
I have heard that before "You got gangsters in power and lawbreakers making rules." (When You Gonna Wake up, Bob Dylan, 1979).
I disagree with the article where it says "nothing and no one will be allowed to challenge their dominion" to the degree that it urges us to believe nothing can be done.
We can turn the MSM with mass demonstration of people power in the form of boycotts and protest of many forms and sorts. The question, then, is will we?
I agree with the article in the sense that the neocons will fight to maintain their unjust hold on the MSM, but I do not agree that they automatically win just by fighting us.
The people can be reached thru alternative news means and sources that are beginning to become most popular.
Blog on to the max.
RLM #12 Good for you for your efforts.
Their silence says a lot. We have the high moral ground so lets keep shouting from there.
DEAR SIR,
PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOU. I GOT YOUR NAME AND CONTACT FROM THE GHANIAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. I PRAYED OVER IT AND SELECTED YOUR NAME AMOUNG OTHER NAMES DUE TO ITS ESTEEMING NATURE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO ME AS A REPUTABLE AND TRUSWORTHY PERSON I CAN DO BUSINESS WITH AND BY THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS I MUST NOT HESISTATE TO CONFIDE IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.
I AM MR.PRINCE JACOB ANTOBREH, THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR AND MRS.
FEDRICK ANTOBRAH , MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ACCRA, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF GHANA BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS.
WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1984, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO
SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM MOTHERLESS.BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH
JUNE 2002 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME
ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$ 16,500,000 (SIXTEEN
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SUSPENCE
ACCOUNT IN LOCAL BANK HERE IN GHANA, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY
SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME
THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS
ASSOCIATES. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY
CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT
PURPOSE, (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT).
SIR, I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
1)TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO
2)TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM A BOY OF 21 YEARS
3)TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE
MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.
MOREOVER, SIR, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS
COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR NORMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS. FURTHERMOIRE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS YOU SIGNIFY INTEREST TO ASSIST ME.
ANTICAIPTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON, THANKS AND GOD BLESS
BEST REGARDS,
MR.PRINCE JACOB ANTOBREH.