Saturday, December 18, 2004
How NOT to report a story: The Christian Science Monitor
Greyhawk does a super job exposing a Christian Science Monitor reporter as a charlatan hack.
Hat tip: Cori Dauber
UPDATE:
Here's the letter I wrote to the reporter and the Christian Science Monitor:
I'll keep you posted if I receive a reply. All relevant parts in the paper's reply or rebuttal, if any, will be posted verbatim.
Jason Van Steenwyk
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Hat tip: Cori Dauber
UPDATE:
Here's the letter I wrote to the reporter and the Christian Science Monitor:
Your article was so full of distortions and half-truths I didn't know where to begin.
A serving military blogger does a pretty good job here, though:
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/001907.html
I'll stick to questioning your grasp of factual matters.
1.) You claim that the Defense Department has acknowledged more than 5,500 servicemen have deserted since the war began. Where are they? What's your sourcing? CBS? Do you believe everything they tell you?
To quote an old newspaperman's maxim, "if your mother says she loves you, check it out."
2.) Yes the Guard and reserve are not seeing the numbers they originally targeted. But you don't mention one of the primary reasons: the guard and reserve rely on a certain number of troops leaving the active duty ranks. But since the reserve component is on active duty so much anyway, soldiers are just staying on active duty.
3.) You fail to mention that polls show that the military voted overwhelmingly for George Bush. Why? Shouldn't that be relevant in a story about troop morale?
4.) Your sourcing is one-sided. It's pretty clear you didn't try very hard to get a perspective other than the Quakers and other less respectable anti-war groups. And where you did, you failed to identify the nature of the groups...one of your basic responsibilities as a reporter.
5.) How many times did you mention Viet Nam? News flash: this ain't Viet Nam.
6.) You claim that the number of reserve officers wanting to resign has jumped. Ok. How many? How do you know? Why are they wanting to resign? My own Guard battion was mobilized in 2003 and deployed overseas in March-April. We had one officer resign. Not over policy, but because he made oodles of money as an executive. If he deployed, his family would have lost their home.
But we had perhaps 10 officers join the battalion from elsewhere in the guard, eager to volunteer. Several deliberately put off their IRR transfers, or came back after IRR. Did you mention those numbers?
7.) Your use of the loaded term "semi-draft" was both inaccurate and irresponsible. Perhaps an anti-war writer could justify it on an opinion page (although the claim would never stand up to analysis).
But on page 1? It's an embarrassment to your paper.
Had I been your editor, I would have handed this back to you for a significant rewrite, along with a stern warning about one-sided and sloppy sourcing, loaded language, and the casual flinging about of unsourced claims.
I'll keep you posted if I receive a reply. All relevant parts in the paper's reply or rebuttal, if any, will be posted verbatim.
Jason Van Steenwyk
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Comments:
Quality information regarding se submission, se submission and se submission can be found at http://www.dreamry.com
# posted by 
: 12:40 AM
: 12:40 AM
I got my visitors from www.dreamry.com and am glad I did! I actually got sales! Yay!
# posted by : 3:29 PM
: 3:29 PM
Every successful online business needs to do one thing and that is to learn all they can about targeted web site traffic.
# posted by : 12:25 AM
: 12:25 AM
www.TheOnlinePromoters.com has everything a webmaster needs to succeed online
# posted by : 11:02 AM
: 11:02 AM
Great blog. In case you care to know, I was searching for low carb recipes using pumpkin and your blog came up. I am glad I found it though.
Very nice.
Very nice.
# posted by : 5:54 PM
: 5:54 PM
Looking for info on Hyper-Thyroid and weight loss and Alvidar came across your blog, you might find mine of interest ##keyword ##http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=253458&u=alvidar.com hyperthyroidism,
# posted by : 7:17 PM
: 7:17 PM
Do you have as much difficulty as me in finding information via a blog search? I just cannot get to the real information I am lookin for. Fortunately, I was lucky to come across your post and really enjoyed reading it.
--Thanks,
wahd
--Thanks,
wahd
# posted by : 2:12 AM
: 2:12 AM
One of the better results I saw from my fasting experience was that I have more self control over my eating habits. I have always been a binge type of eater. After my fast, I felt like I could restrain myself easier. It is proberbly a mental attribute. I mean I can go without eating for 7 days then I sure can keep myself from eating something I shouldn't.
Link to this site. exercise
Link to this site. exercise
# posted by : 5:29 AM
: 5:29 AM
Hallo I managed to ##Capture ## your ##Blog ## whilst trying to ##Dominate ## the scenes with my ##Blog## I did enjoy reading what you wrote even tho' i did not intend to as I was looking for a site that a story of ##MLM##so I stopped by your site , Interesting, i like how the other half lives, Nice read , than you. Annieb
# posted by : 5:09 PM
: 5:09 PM
Hallo I managed to ##Capture ## your ##Blog ## whilst trying to ##Dominate ## the scenes with my ##Blog## I did enjoy reading what you wrote even tho' i did not intend to as I was looking for a site that a story of ##MLM##so I stopped by your site , Interesting, i like how the other half lives, Nice read , than you. Annieb
# posted by : 7:24 PM
: 7:24 PM
www.palhits.com Get sponsored sign ups and generate hits to your chosen website with this internet marketing site.
# posted by : 5:01 AM
: 5:01 AM
Lose Weight Now. Fasting, when done peoperly, can be a basoc part of a solid weight loss plan. If done correctly it can ne a great start to your new way of life.
Link to this site. teen weight loss forum
Link to this site. teen weight loss forum
# posted by : 2:51 AM
: 2:51 AM
Hallo I managed to ##Capture ## your ##Blog ## whilst trying to ##Dominate ## the scenes with my ##Blog## I did enjoy reading what you wrote even tho' i did not intend to as I was looking for a site that a story of ##MLM##so I stopped by your site , Interesting, i like how the other half lives, Nice read , than you. Annieb
# posted by : 6:17 AM
: 6:17 AM
I was reading a paper from a university about this subject. Nice article. You know what you are talking about. Along the lines of this theme, I have a similar site zits where more information can be found on the subject. Thanks for the bit of information you posted here.
# posted by : 1:19 AM
: 1:19 AM
Hey,
I wanted everyone to know about this new traffic generation system. It's the BOMB!
Invented by an Italian Computer Teacher who has cracked the code to Unlimited Web Traffic!
Now everyone struggling with Targeted visitors to my website and no matter how small you are, can compete with the BIG BOYS!
This is like nothing you've ever seen before and you can use it to get hundreds of thousands of targeted visitors to your Targeted visitors to my website blog or website.
I just want to level the playing field for us underdogs in Internet Marketing who's trying to make a living online and who are really struggling.
Please all you bloggers and underdogs unite and get this here Targeted visitors to my website
BIG DOGS Take Heed....We are coming!
Thanks for your time and spread the word. We can succeed just like the big dogs.
Nice looking blog, man. Peace.
Support free web traffic-
http://www.Free-Traffic-Guru.com
I wanted everyone to know about this new traffic generation system. It's the BOMB!
Invented by an Italian Computer Teacher who has cracked the code to Unlimited Web Traffic!
Now everyone struggling with Targeted visitors to my website and no matter how small you are, can compete with the BIG BOYS!
This is like nothing you've ever seen before and you can use it to get hundreds of thousands of targeted visitors to your Targeted visitors to my website blog or website.
I just want to level the playing field for us underdogs in Internet Marketing who's trying to make a living online and who are really struggling.
Please all you bloggers and underdogs unite and get this here Targeted visitors to my website
BIG DOGS Take Heed....We are coming!
Thanks for your time and spread the word. We can succeed just like the big dogs.
Nice looking blog, man. Peace.
Support free web traffic-
http://www.Free-Traffic-Guru.com
# posted by : 2:57 PM
: 2:57 PM
Searching blogs for USA traffic.
Came here. Interesting blog.
http://www.1st-choice-4-website-traffic.com
USA traffic
Came here. Interesting blog.
http://www.1st-choice-4-website-traffic.com
USA traffic
# posted by : 1:45 AM
: 1:45 AM
Hi,
Both me and my brother Francesco read this web blog on a regular basis. We found out that we could also create a web blog too.
Keep this entire blog safety and in great condition... we do read and this is our first comment. Hope our web blog will have the same professionality...
Regards,
ways to make money online
Both me and my brother Francesco read this web blog on a regular basis. We found out that we could also create a web blog too.
Keep this entire blog safety and in great condition... we do read and this is our first comment. Hope our web blog will have the same professionality...
Regards,
ways to make money online
# posted by : 9:18 PM
: 9:18 PM
Blogs and blogging are good for your self esteem!! - From http://www.surveyearn.biz/PaidSurveys/Work_at_home.html - work from home
# posted by : 4:41 PM
: 4:41 PM
Good Blog Site with a lot of intersting and not so interesting comments I would say!
If you have a moment please feel free to visit my site http://www.small-business-web-design.ssr.be
web ecommerce design
If you have a moment please feel free to visit my site http://www.small-business-web-design.ssr.be
web ecommerce design
# posted by : 4:49 AM
: 4:49 AM
Many thanks for creating your blog. It's interesting how people are different in their interests.
Thank You again,
work at home company
Thank You again,
work at home company
# posted by : 5:12 AM
: 5:12 AM
acne medications
Here's some useful info on acne medications which you might be looking for. The url is:
http://www.acnetreatment1.com/
Post a Comment
Here's some useful info on acne medications which you might be looking for. The url is:
http://www.acnetreatment1.com/
# posted by : 4:14 AM
: 4:14 AM
