Free Republic

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Times dismissed a reporter after an investigation found that his story about the death of a fraternity pledge at a state university "fell far short" of standards, the newspaper said Tuesday. An editor's note in the Times said the March 29 story by Eric Slater had numerous inaccuracies and carried quotations from two named and other unnamed sources that could not be verified. Among the errors, the paper said the story erroneously reported that the victim was alone at the time of his death. "Beyond the specific errors, the newspaper's inquiry found that...

LAT investigating Slater's story The Times has sent editor and former reporter Jim Newton to Chico to try to corroborate reporting by the paper's Eric Slater that has come under fire. Slater's story in March about hazing troubles at Chico State has already been the subject of a Times correction and official dismay in the Northern California town. A story today in the Chico State student newspaper, the Orion, says that Newton has interviewed students, faculty and city officials. "I'm just trying to report the facts," said Newton. "I'm here to gather information." Student leader Michelle Dobin said Newton told...