WorldCom Fraud Doubles

Silvaran writes "No, this isn't a repeat story. WorldCom claims another $3.3 billion accounting error. That's about $7 billion, for those that are counting. Wish I had that kind of cash to miscalculate on my income tax forms." There's also a NYT story. I love how the news outlets are saying, "error", "irregularity", "problem", as if this was all some sort of tragic accident, instead of laying out the obvious truth, "criminal fraud committed with full knowledge it was a crime".

Comments

press

[strombrg]

> I love how the news outlets are saying, "error",
> "irregularity", "problem", as if this was all
> some sort of tragic accident, instead of laying
> out the obvious truth, "criminal fraud committed
> with full knowledge it was a crime".

I suspect that's for the courts to decide - not the press.

Libel

[John Hasler]

I love how the news outlets are saying,
"error", "irregularity", "problem", as if this
was all some sort of tragic accident,

As far as I can tell those are Worldcom's words. The newsies are reporting what they were told. Calling it criminal in a news story would be to run the risk of losing a libel suit as there have been no convictions yet.

While it is pretty obvious that there was criminal fraud, that has not yet been proven in a court of law. Let's not encourage the newsies to inject their opinions into the news any more than they already do.

You're a fool.

[daveman_1]

Would you prefer the media outlets to play judge or jury?

Of course they don't come out and call it fraud. That would be an editorial piece not a solid news piece. Judgement has not been passed by the COURTS, therefore the media does not predict the verdict. Of course we all suspect it is fraud at this point, since they've already been busted before. I'll bet you wouldn't want someone to proclaim you were guilty before you hit the court room, now would you? This is just something to think about for the site that calls themselves "News for Nerds..."