Today, anyone can break a story and publish it to the world instantly. That doesn't mean they should nor does it mean their methods or their content mean anything. For those that still try to "practice" journalism and do so responsibly and ethically, this blog if for them.
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Journalethix
This photo appeared on The Drudge Report under the headline “Presidential Stimulus Package” insinuating (rather vulgarly) that Obama was leering at a 17 year old girl. The picture allegedly originally surfaced on conservative websites and prompted a slew of harsh responses.
ABC News , however, decided to actually do their job and investigate the photo by finding a video of the same moment in time, which reveals that Obama’s glance was innocuous and not directed at the girl at all.
It’s a journalistic gaffe to jump on a rumor without verifying its authenticity or context. It’s another thing entirely to continue to post the photo out of context once the accuracy or lack thereof has been widely verified. As of the time of this post, The Drudge Report still had the picture as their lead story under the same headline. The photo broke Thursday afternoon.
Copyright David R. Norton 2009
