On 7/9/06, Sarah slimvirgin@gmail.com wrote:
The policy is based on common sense, not dogma. When you send a letter to a newspaper for publication, you're expected to supply your name, address, and telephone number so that someone from the newspaper can check that you really did send it.
I've had letters published in many different newspapers and other publications. While all or almost all require such information, I have never, ever had any of them check back.
I'd imagine if I was claiming to be a well-known individual, they MIGHT check it, but even then, I have my doubts whether they would do so every single time.
Newspapers have processes in place to avoid this scenario, and they have libel insurance for when things go wrong. We have none of those things, which is why we piggy-back on other people's, by using only material that has already been checked.
I think it's a huge amount of faith you have in the press that they check stuff at all well. My experience is the opposite.
They DO tend to fact-check things that look like they might get them in trouble - e.g. the famous and influential. Otherwise, most publications are much slacker with the fact-checking.
Newspapers are also, IMO, much less reliable outside of the sphere of pure news.
-Matt