Seth Borenstein Apologies. (A Human mistake)

Knight-Ridder Newspaper | September 7, 2004 | Seth Borenstein

[daviscupper]

daviscupper, Thanks for e-mailing. On Saturday, a correction was sent out. Let me explain what happened so you can understand this was not some case of media bias or whatever. This was not a case of me being a liar, but a simple fallable human who makes a mistake. Unfortunately in this politically charged atmosphere, people would rather accuse someone of being a liar than understanding that we are all humans, make mistakes and as the Bible says, deserve forgiveness. As a science correspondent, I was writing, from Washington, a story on the Clinton surgery and heart problem. I was sent an insert about Kerry mentioning the Clinton surgery and I tried to balance it with something taken from AP on Bush mentioning it. Since much of the e-mail I am getting seems generated by some web site that vilifies reporters, I recommend you read the entire story instead of someone's edited version of it. When you do you will see this hardly a case of the media bashing Bush supporters. It is a case of a rushed reporter stupidly _ and in error _ using an AP story in half a sentence and not crediting AP. The full story is here: http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/9577034.htm

I was in error not mentioning AP's contribution and in using what was later retracted by AP. When Knight Ridder learned of AP's retraction, we sent out a similar correction Saturday at 3: 16 pm. The correction is here: ^BC-MED-CLINTON-BYPASS-CORRECTIVE:WA _ national, world, xtop, itop (70@ words)

Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service

(KRT)

Editors who used MED-CLINTON-BYPASS:WA (Borenstein), which moved Friday, are asked to use the following:

___

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

A story about plans for former President Clinton to undergo heart surgery incorrectly reported that some people at a campaign appearance booed when President Bush wished Clinton well. There were no boos.

___

(c) 2004, Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-09-04-04 1516EDT

I hope this helps. If it doesn't or you have any other questions, please e-mail me. You suggest I get a life, I have one. I am a human who believes, like President Bush, in civility. I wish you would follow his lead, because nastiness like your only hurts his cause. I hope that in the future, if you make a mistake, someone doesn't treat you the same way you treated me because I believe in the Bible and God's forgiveness. I forgive you and I'm sure when you examine your heart, you can find it big enough to forgive me for a human mistake. Sincerely,

Seth Borenstein.

Seth Borenstein National Correspondent Knight Ridder Newspapers 700 12th St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005-3994 (note new mail address as of June 21, 2004) 202-383-6102

[boxerblues]

in other words he got busted wahhhhh

[orionblamblam]

> because I believe in the Bible and God's forgiveness

Blah, blah, blah.

Both my BS Meter and my Pitchfork-and-Flaming-Torch-O-Meter go offscale when people start trotting out the Bible and God when making appologies. "You should just shut the hell up with your criticism of me because God... Bible... Jesus... yadda, yadda, yadda..."

[daviscupper]

Yes he did and now he is trying to guilt trip me.

[Buttaboom]

As a journalist in my former life, I actually find this business about him using another reporters observations to fluff up his own story to be a huge, huge problem. It's bad enough that he picked someone who wasn't truthful to begin with, but using something that might fall into the non-verifiable content aisle and claiming it as his own observation is a big huge no-no.

I'd say I'm shocked Knight-Ridder allows or encourages this kind of thing, but having been in the business, I'm pretty sure they don't care.

[Dr. Frank fan]

It seems he has admitted his error and apologized for it. Credit where credit is due.

Any word from Mr. Hays?

[TheBigB]

"I am so very, very sorry...that I got caught."

[Huck]

I believe in the Bible and God's forgiveness

Seth Borentstein believes in Christ? I don't know. I think he's trying to play the religion card.

[AppyPappy]

Great. A bible-thumping reporter.

[Cboldt]

in other words he got busted wahhhhh

In a sense. But, he did not author the lie. He repeated it, as it came from what he took as a trustworthy source (AP).

Most FReepers are blaming a Tom Hays as the original author of lie, but I believe they are mistaken too.

As a matter of expedience, especially at work, we all rely on statements made by others.

[RKV]

Since the "mistakes" made by the presss all seem to the advantage of one side over another, please forgive us if we can perceive a pattern. Even if you will not admit the existance of the pattern to yourself. Meanwhile the MSM loses market share and Fox and the internet gain market share. We are in the market for information, not your opinions, thanks. And now we do have a competitive choice. Improve your performance or go out of business. Personally I hope for the later because of all the damage that having the Fourth Estate in the tank for the RATs has done over the years.

[Physicist]

As a science correspondent, I was writing, from Washington, a story on the Clinton surgery and heart problem.

Oh, I see. So the booing was really germaine to the story. NOT.

But, after all, he's sorry. Sorry for not crediting the AP, that is. Not sorry for propagating a lie without checking it out first.

[Honor above all]

A mistake is just that, a mistake. Forgiveness is always the best option where merited. On the other hand, reporting that a particular group of people is guilty of something as reprehensible as booing a seriously ill individual, whether you like him/her or not, requires that you verify your source. Borenstein acknowledges the heightened political environment and then contributes to the muck by not checking his facts. Work harder next time dude.

[misterrob]

The problem is that he just doesn't get it. The MSM is bashing Bush at every turn and he wants to talk about a web site that vilifies reporters who engage in shoddy to downright disingenuous and unethical behavior.

The best thing for him to do would be admit that he erred and resolve to learn from the mistake. And, when addressing the media we might want to adopt a more civil tone lest we be too easily dismissed as raving nuts that aren't worth listening to, regardless of the merits of our point.

[daviscupper]

Yes, I have to admit that he owned up to his error. And he did write back to me and apologize for it. Yes, he does deserve credit for that. And I will write him back a simple, non-sarcastic thank you.

However, did you notice that he received a reaction from the Kerry crowd and just wanted to balance it with one from the Bush crowd. He must think the Bush people are just mean-spirited. However, like you said he did own up and apologize.

Re Mr. Hays, I have ripped into him twice and he has not budged or apologized for his mean-spirited remarks. I am still waiting. GLTY.

[vrwinger]

Right... "This wasn't a case of bias, just simple plagerism..."

Well that's OK then... Some 'apology' from this reporter ...

[luvbach1]

...nastiness like your only hurts his [Bush's]cause.

As if he's concerned about hurting Bush's cause. Wasn't hurting Bush's cause the purpose of adding a lying source to his item?

[mlbford2]

Well, the old saying 'men in trenches and men on death row'. I guess we can now add journalists busted for lying.

[luvbach1]

He repeated it, as it came from what he took as a trustworthy source.

That is probably true. But the Bush and conservative bashing motive for using it is plain.

[mrsmith]

"human who believes, like President Bush, in civility" so when I saw an article that Bush and his supporters were not civil I naturally included it without checking.
Cause I know Bush believes in civility...

See. I'm not biased. I think Bush is civil- so I wrote that he wasn't. And neither were his supporters.

So don't be uncivil to me! It's all perfectly logical to a science correspondent as you can see by looking at any science article in the popular media.