It all started a couple days ago when author Brad Thor let the MSM have it over coverage of the Jussie Smollett story that continues to unravel:
I have never been one to shout #FakeNews, but after the #JussieSmollett story, I don't know how any reasonable person ever believes anything the "mainstream" media has to say.
— Brad Thor (@BradThor) February 17, 2019
A New York Times writer didn’t appreciate the swipe at much of the mainstream media’s coverage of the story from the start:
Lots of people echoing this sentiment. It's thoroughly confusing. Most outlets reported exactly what was happening as it was happening. The CPD said publicly for weeks they weren't doubting Smollett's story. And somehow, this is the media's fault for reporting stuff accurately? https://t.co/nxDYNbZqUx
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) February 17, 2019
“Reporting stuff accurately”? Rafer Weigel, a reporter for Fox 32 in Chicago who has been a reliable source on the evolving story from day one, weighed in this way:
Media outlets who 1st reported Smollett was “attacked” made an error. Initially most of us in #Chicago media reported “Jussie Smollett says he was attacked” because we didn’t know if it actually happened. It’s the old adage, “if your mother says she loves you, check it out”
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) February 18, 2019
The refusal by some in the media to admit their mistakes out of the gate with some of these kinds of stories goes a long way toward explaining why they happen over and over again, which means they’re not really “mistakes.”
So, for example, @sopandeb's January 29 headline: "Jussie Smollett, Star of ‘Empire,’ Attacked in What Police Call a Possible Hate Crime"
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) February 18, 2019
Also for example, @SopanDeb's February 14 article was headlined "Jussie Smollett, on 'Good Morning America,' Expresses Anger Over Attack." The subhed began "In his first interview since the Chicago assault…"
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) February 18, 2019
Yep, that kind of thing is exactly what people are talking about when they criticize many in the media.
Literally journalism 101. Like this is what every professor says the first day of class. https://t.co/BEddDiTPn4
— John McKelvey (@John_McKelvey) February 18, 2019
This sums it up well.
This is exactly why we say things like “allegedly” and “claims to” before we get carried away.
Hate crimes get faked.
Checkout Andy to see what I’m saying.https://t.co/YnwGArhaRS https://t.co/xInLaNd4tj
— Phil Lacio (@jbs913) February 18, 2019
On #JussieSmollett, the local media in Chicago has reported news whereas the national media has reported commentary disguised as news.
— J. Virtue (@bornwithvirtue) February 18, 2019
Sadly that’s the case in this situation (and others).
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