Kelly Martin wrote:
On 12/6/05, Jimmy Wales jwales@wikia.com wrote:
"Now, you do have a general disclaimer on the site, it says that Wikipedia cannot guarantee the validity of the information found here, none of the authors, contributors, or anyone else connected with Wikipedia in any way whatsoever can be responsible for the appearance of any inaccurate or libellous information." - Kyra Phillips, talking to me on CNN
I wish my response could have been:
"Yes, Kyra, and let me read you the disclaimer from _your_ website: NEITHER CNN, ITS AFFILIATES NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS OR LICENSORS WARRANT THAT CNN INTERACTIVE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE; NOR DO THEY MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF CNN INTERACTIVE, OR AS TO THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY OR CONTENT OF ANY INFORMATION, SERVICE, OR MERCHANDISE PROVIDED THROUGH CNN INTERACTIVE."
But I didn't have that handy.
Well, it's pretty obvious from the interview that she was out to get you. CNN's coverage evinces clear bias. We do need to work on your preinterview briefings, though....
It's been interesting to note the errors, minor and major, in the news coverage of this incident. One radio report in Chicagoland reported that Seigenthaler was a former Senator. At least one blog report demanded absolute accuracy -- while misspelling Seigenthaler's name consistently throughout. Almost all the print and electronic media articles I've seen misreport Wikipedia's URL as www.wikipedia.com (instead of .org). The conclusion I've reached is that the media is no more accurate than we are. I think it would be a really good idea to take the media coverage of this incident and identify all the errors in their coverage -- some of which reaches the level of libel itself (such as the one that says that Jimbo ignored Seigenthaler's entreaties for four months before bothering to act). Their house is no cleaner than ours.
That would be a great article on the nature of media accuracy; it could be widely circulated. I don't know if they coould handle having all these bubbles burst.
Ec