...I screwed up. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I did it anyway, and I am very sorry for having done it.
I posted on my Facebook status update that legendary Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno had passed away. The thing was, at the time I posted, he was still alive.
I saw that someone else on Facebook posted about his death, and so I looked online to see who was reporting the sad news. Several smaller media outlets, including Penn State's own newspaper had indeed reported that Joe Pa had passed away. Even CBS Sports, a larger media outlet by comparison, ran the story based seemingly on the strength of reports coming out of State College. This was their mistake, and in turn, mine.
When a "source" tells a reporter something, that reporter must check, check again, and then check once more. Reporters here did not check, and simply ran with the story. As a former journalist, and one who is trained in journalism, it sickens me that this happened, and that I fell victim to a very basic tenet of journalism: always check your sources.
In my defense (and there really isn't one) I am not able to check sources on this story. I saw it on Facebook, checked it online, and decided to post a note remembering the revered Coach. Thinking this was satisfactory, I continued perusing Facebook. Not long (seconds, really) after posting my note about Joe Pa, a friend sent me a note asking where did I get that info? I told him, but after re-checking larger media outlets like the New York Times, ESPN and NBC Sports, I found nothing but reports that Paterno was in serious condition. Finding nothing more concrete, I took my status update down about five minutes after I put it up.
This again does not excuse my actions in the first place. Something was nagging at me that I just ignored. One sports information outlet reports a story (as big as this one is) and I just go posting about it? I should have waited. I should have been more patient, because one of the worst things you can do in journalism, is kill someone before they are dead. I should have made sure the story was true before I updated my status. For this I apologize. It was short sighted and a poor reflection on my skills and my training. Though I am sure not many people saw that status update, (or this blog posting) that again is no excuse for me. I should have known better.
That said, I always did like the Nittany Lions. Not for any real reason, except that they had a coach who was a real genius, a stand up guy, and one helluva coach. Despite what has gone on the last few months, I can't say I fully agree that he should have taken the blame, but I am not on the inside, and I have to get my facts from sources, who I hope in the future, will be correct.
Rest in peace, Joe Pa.
--Jonny
I posted on my Facebook status update that legendary Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno had passed away. The thing was, at the time I posted, he was still alive.
I saw that someone else on Facebook posted about his death, and so I looked online to see who was reporting the sad news. Several smaller media outlets, including Penn State's own newspaper had indeed reported that Joe Pa had passed away. Even CBS Sports, a larger media outlet by comparison, ran the story based seemingly on the strength of reports coming out of State College. This was their mistake, and in turn, mine.
When a "source" tells a reporter something, that reporter must check, check again, and then check once more. Reporters here did not check, and simply ran with the story. As a former journalist, and one who is trained in journalism, it sickens me that this happened, and that I fell victim to a very basic tenet of journalism: always check your sources.
In my defense (and there really isn't one) I am not able to check sources on this story. I saw it on Facebook, checked it online, and decided to post a note remembering the revered Coach. Thinking this was satisfactory, I continued perusing Facebook. Not long (seconds, really) after posting my note about Joe Pa, a friend sent me a note asking where did I get that info? I told him, but after re-checking larger media outlets like the New York Times, ESPN and NBC Sports, I found nothing but reports that Paterno was in serious condition. Finding nothing more concrete, I took my status update down about five minutes after I put it up.
This again does not excuse my actions in the first place. Something was nagging at me that I just ignored. One sports information outlet reports a story (as big as this one is) and I just go posting about it? I should have waited. I should have been more patient, because one of the worst things you can do in journalism, is kill someone before they are dead. I should have made sure the story was true before I updated my status. For this I apologize. It was short sighted and a poor reflection on my skills and my training. Though I am sure not many people saw that status update, (or this blog posting) that again is no excuse for me. I should have known better.
That said, I always did like the Nittany Lions. Not for any real reason, except that they had a coach who was a real genius, a stand up guy, and one helluva coach. Despite what has gone on the last few months, I can't say I fully agree that he should have taken the blame, but I am not on the inside, and I have to get my facts from sources, who I hope in the future, will be correct.
Rest in peace, Joe Pa.
--Jonny
No comments:
Post a Comment