Slashdot Mirror
Wonkette and the Ethics of Online Journalism
Decaffeinated Jedi writes "The New York Times offers up a thought-provoking article ('First With the Scoop, if Not the Truth' - free reg. req.) on Ana Marie Cox, proprietor of the popular inside-the-beltway gossip blog Wonkette. Known for her site's 'gossipy, raunchy, potty-mouthed' coverage of Washington politics, site owner Nick Denton is quoted in the article as saying, 'I think it's implicit in the way that a Web site is produced that our standards of accuracy are lower. Besides, immediacy is more important than accuracy, and humor is more important than accuracy.' Needless to say, such a statement raises some interesting questions about the growing influence of blogs and other non-traditional online news sources. That being said, does the nature of the World Wide Web in fact give sites like Wonkette, Drudge, or even Slashdot a free pass on accuracy if it means the difference between getting the scoop or not?"
Because they've never had a problem with journalistic ethics.
Speaking only of Slashdot, I'll just say... so far.
Although in the case of Slashdot, I think it's not so much about getting a scoop as posting a dupe
I kid, I kid! In truth I love you all!
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
I'm not even sure where to start.
Let's see, fired from her previous employer, spreading completely unsubstantiated rumor as fact, and talking nonsense in general...
sounds like she's looking for a job at the Enquirer, Times or Star.
Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
I could scoop ALL the major news sources just by making up crap stories featuring the right players
Hey, man, I just wanted to say that I loved your informative scoop about Rob Malda, John Ashcroft and Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Rope.
Who'dya have thunk that?
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
Besides, immediacy is more important than accuracy, and humor is more important than accuracy.'
Thus, if you make a funny first post without reading the article, you will get +5 in seconds.
"If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
Yeah, Drudge has the big stuff, ever it it's not true.
Like just this morning I went to Drudge and saw this posted:
God, I was so upset until I went to Google news.
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
the New York Times care about accuracy?
Wow, AC! What a great idea.
If only we could convert "objectivity" to
a numerical scale in an objective fashion.
Oh wait.
Slashdot's inaccurate summary about accuracy on the web.
The New York Times offers up a thought-provoking article ('First With the Scoop, if Not the Truth' -
At first I thought the article was going to be about the NYT itself, but no, they're just pointing at others who don't have much less journalistic integrity than themselves.
Someone considers The Today Show to be a news show?
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
The Today show, not the daily show.
Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
The point: Most readers will trade off accuracy for someone who's openly in their philosophical or political corner.
Ummm... Does The Daily Show count?
Because it's pretty funny--
Of course, it probably should have a more explicit and obvious disclaimer. I've always been a big fan of the one at the bottom of appleturns.com:
"""
DISCLAIMER: AtAT is not a news site any more than "Inside Edition" is a "real" news show. We make "Dawson's Creek" look like "60 Minutes." We engage in rampant guesswork, wild speculation, and pure fabrication for the entertainment of our viewers. Sure, everything here is "inspired by actual events," but so was "Amityville II: The Possession." So lighten up.
"""
Just think if the NY Times had a policy of publishing every letter sent to the editor. Now that will keep you honest.
Not the trolls, though, I should hope...
The thought of opening a newspaper, only to find a picture of the Goatse man on the oppinion page just sent a chill down my spine. Ugh!
It's the tradition of your forefathers, boy. Don't sweep it under the rug.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
That happened a long time ago.
We called it "Junior High School".
Hopelessly pedantic since 1963.
There are ways to tell people that they are wong without saying, "Hey, Nimrod, your being dumb!".
Y'mean like this?
--
As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.
Is there a story moderation like "-1, crappy grammar"?
This is particularly true if she is willing to talk in frank terms about ass-fucking. And Wonkette certainly is. In fact, for some reason it's so important to her that she capitalizes it as 'Ass-Fucking' every time.
-ccm
Too much Law; not enough Order.