As we reported over the weekend, ICE arresting an illegal immigrant while he was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital for a c-section had the anti-ICE Resistance immediately fuming, with the media’s help. What was left out of original reports was that the man was wanted for murder in Mexico:
"A newborn is without his father Friday" — because his father was wanted on an outstanding homicide warrant https://t.co/olPDmyNntA
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 19, 2018
Among reporters helping spread half the story right out of the gate was the Toronto Star’s Washington correspondent Daniel Dale:
ICE arrested a California man on Wednesday when he stopped for gas while driving his wife to the hospital for her C-section. She ended up driving herself the rest of the way, giving birth alone. https://t.co/T7MHsWvGVS
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 18, 2018
27,000 retweets. Impressive! But, in light of the other part of the story making the rounds, a clarification was issued, but it obviously didn’t have nearly the viral appeal as the first tweet:
Important update: ICE said today that this man was arrested because of a homicide warrant for him in Mexico. ICE didn’t mention this in its comments to media yesterday. His lawyer says he denies that there are such Mexico charges; no details from ICE yet. https://t.co/AnIfv8DapM
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 19, 2018
That one was only good for just over a thousand retweets. Dale says he’s learned a lesson though, while blaming ICE just a little bit:
ICE was asked for comment by news outlets doing proper due diligence, and its responses didn’t mention anything about homicide – just said the usual about how no illegal immigrant is safe from arrest. I updated as soon as ICE provided new info. https://t.co/dfgPsopTJg
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 19, 2018
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That said, if ICE’s claim about a homicide warrant is accurate, I think it’s bad that way more people will see the original tweet than the update tweet, and I wish I hadn’t tweeted it out before ICE’s second statement.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 19, 2018
In cases like this where there’s no factual error in the original tweet but additional info becomes available later, I think an update is more appropriate than deletion. Also, ICE also hasn’t proved its own claim, or even provided details. https://t.co/QPVEazDQOQ
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 19, 2018
Anyway, handling these stories is tricky – maybe should note in tweets about early reports that we don’t have all the details yet, especially if ICE omits key helpful-to-ICE details when asked for comment. Trying my best over here; always regret spreading any misleading info.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 19, 2018
The reason so many “journalists” were quick to jump all over the early report wouldn’t be that it just happened to fit the narrative, could it?
First of all, ICE doesn't have to justify enforcing the law to the media. If you choose to run off half-cocked, breathlessly going for retweets to own the cons, that's on you. You guys never learn and this is why we loathe you. https://t.co/biB2Pg0k5E
— Carl Gustav (@CaptYonah) August 19, 2018
I appreciate that you realized your mistake, but isn't your job to investigate the facts BEFORE reporting or tweeting or whatever masquarades as "journalism" these days? I get that click-bait pays the bills, but aren't the facts more important? How can we trust you if you don't?
— BevfromNYC (@BevfromNYC) August 19, 2018
Local Twitter man learns the importance of the journalistic standard: COLLECTING ALL THE FACTS BEFORE RUNNING A STORY https://t.co/nZk7dH9j8G
— Spencer Nozell (@Snozell) August 19, 2018
Moral: Don’t release stories until you have enough facts. https://t.co/f2DXLvF27u
— Sam Valley (@SamValley) August 19, 2018
These days the media’s credo seems to be “if it fits the liberal narrative, it leads!”
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