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Globe vs. Herald on the miner story

John praises the Globe for getting the miner story right and criticizes the Herald for going with the original happy story.

Not so fast there - John must get an early edition of the Herald, but a late edition of the Globe. In Roslindale, our Globe's usually from the early press run (which you can tell by the usually awful color photos that look like somebody forgot to focus). And when I picked up the paper this morning before throwing it into the house on my way to work, I read a front-page headline about how 12 of the 13 miners had been found alive. Then I got in the car, turned on 'BZ and heard the truth.

Like the Globe, the Herald stopped the presses and went with the right story in later editions.

Images from newseum.org:

Jason has compiled before and after screen captures of news Web sites.

My standard newspaper disclosure.

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Comments

Is it really fair to criticize the newspapers or tv media for initially reporting they were alive? I would imagine they were getting the news from sources on the ground there so they only went with what was the accepted story. Now, obviously someone jumped the gun in WV on this and made a tragedy even worse, but I'm not sure I can fault some newspapers for running that initial story when that was what everyone was saying. If they never corrected the story, then that's something different of course.

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Don't shoot the messenger over erroneous reports that filtered out. If the media is to be blamed, it is for the obscene rubbernecking that this tragedy has/will become. For every one report on miner unionization, job site hazards or safety regulations, we have 10 personal interest stories that do little to delve into the problem let alone point to a solution. Exhibit 1, MSNBC.com leading the journalistic charge with "NBC VIDEO: Families in Anguish". Sickening.

Media Nation has a good post on this subject.

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Okay... I am not going to SLAM the journalists, but this is a touchy subject for me. My cousin was in that mine, and he is not the one in the hospital. My grandmother told me when I talked to her this morning that they still have not released the bodies to the families yet because they want to make certain that no mistakes are made in the investigations. My heart goes out to all the families, and I hope Randal makes a complete recovery.

However, I teach English and journalism. I teach my students (and it is only ethical) to verify information and your sources. Whoever it was that told the families last night that the guys were all okay should be ashamed of themselves, but the journalists did not follow ethical journalistic practices. In the rush to be the first to air/print the story, the facts were not verified. Reports are now saying that the mine owner knew 20 minutes after the celebration began that their joy was misplaced.

Those journalists should have made sure that the details have: 1- come 100% from a source of authority (someone who was in charge) and 2- been verified by checking with a secondary credible source. I teach my students that it is better to be right than fast.

Not only those of us who have loved ones there but could not be there, but the entire country, has been keeping a close watch on this situation. An entire nation breathed a sigh of releif only to wake up to a horror story.

My hat does, however, go off to Anderson Cooper. This morning when a lady who was in the church approached and told him that the men were dead and not alive, he listened to her story and very respectfully and delicately repeated her message and told the camera that they were trying to verify that fact at that moment. I can appreciate that.

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I'm sorry if your cousin was in there. Don't have much to say about that except sorry, that's horrific. But in terms of the media, the governor himself was out there confirming the reports. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the governor has correct information in a situation like that. What is unbelievable is that the mine owners knew the report was false only 20 minutes or so after yet held the info for 3 hours. That's inexcusable.

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Thank you. And, like I said. I really wasn't trying to "slam" the reporters. That is the job they are in. And, to be honest ... it is really easy for me right now to talk about checking secondary sources and getting verification. I am upset, and trying to focus on something like that keeps my mind occupied. I also agree that Gov. Manchin should not have given any "thumbs up" when he knew that his own PR people had no confirmation that the men were alive. He is a leader. The people look to him for answers. When he says something, people listen. We all make mistakes. But... that is one heck of an "Oops."

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I too am sorry for your loss Aradia, and I can certainly understand your points regarding the lack responsibility (at least partial) by the media. I guess my greatest concern is that the reasons WHY this tragedy occurred are discussed as opposed to the misreporting of it. The media bloviating about itself is once of my biggest pet peeves.

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How in the world can the mine owners and management live with themselves knowing they purposefully withheld the correct information from the families? If they knew the initial reports were possibly untrue, they should have told them immediately. Their excuses just do not hold water. Of everyone involved in this fiasco, they are the only clear villians to me.

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