Sometimes those who consider themselves “real journalists” are the first to get things wrong:
NBC & CBS Forced To Retract Name Of Navy Yard Shooter After Getting It Wrong http://t.co/gmTP3fSmtg via @Deadline
— Nikki Finke (@NikkiFinke) September 16, 2013
Last year, ABC News’ Brian Ross committed media malpractice by linking the Aurora theater shooter to the Tea Party simply because there was a member of the Tea Party who happened to have the same name as the suspect.
Tweeters speculated mockingly about how Ross would go about researching today’s news:
https://twitter.com/FigDrewton/status/379654028503703552
https://twitter.com/GOPcomedy/status/379679437354438656
"We don't know if this is the same Aaron Alexis who is a member of the Fort Worth Tea Party, but we are working our sources."
-Brian Ross— Stephe96 (@Stephe96) September 16, 2013
@BrianRoss is the shooter a member of the Tea Party? We are anxiously awaiting your flawless reporting
— live life (@freespirit22) September 16, 2013
@BretBaier @AnnCoulter ABC's Brian Ross trying to check Tea Party rolls in Fort Worth for any "white" Aaron Alexis's?
— Sherminator (@gfcronus) September 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/richalgeni/status/379691633677053952
A definitive link?
@rln22 @ABC Brian Ross reporting that Aaron Alexis liked to drink tea.
— WN3 Space Cat (@wn3) September 16, 2013
Last year, that would have been more than enough evidence for Ross to take public.
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