ABC's Brian Ross and a press that disregards reputations of those it covers

The Baltimore Sun ^ | July 21, 2012 | David Zurawik

[Qbert]

Journalistic mistakes are easy to make in the immediate wake of events like the horrific shootings last week in a movie theater in Colorado.

[Snip]

But the stampede to speed is only part of the problem. I believe the media malfeasance also includes a disregard for the reputations of the people on whom we report. To me, that is the mortal sin. We in the mass media have tremendous power to harm reputations if we are not careful – and we seem to be getting less and less careful until it must look to the public as if we couldn’t care less.

[Snip]

Ross, ABC News’ chief investigative reporter, told viewers that there’s “a Jim Holmes, of Aurora, Colorado, page on the Colorado Tea Party site.” Furthermore, he added that it includes him “talking about joining the Tea Party last year.”

Ross did qualify the report saying, “Now, we don't know if this is the same Jim Holmes, but it is Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colorado.”

So, why put it out there in the first place, if you don’t have it nailed down? And in this case, it was indeed the wrong Jim Holmes -- and Ross and ABC had to publish a correction and apology.

[Snip]

“Several million people saw Brian’s initial statement this morning, but how many saw the retraction and apology?” he countered. “I can’t explain how outraged I am by this ‘reporting’, but what can you do? They issue a quick apology, no one in the media faces any consequences, and they go back to doing what they always do.”

[Snip]

ABC News declined comment Friday beyond the statement of correction and apology.

[JPG]

You're right, he's still employed but it has yet to all play out and Ross is not out of the woods especially if Jim Holmes retains a good lawyer and proceeds. Brian Ross knows he needs to tighten-up his act and that will crimp his style.

[ozzymandus]

I sent a complaint to ABC about Ross. They sent a reply saying I should complain to my local ABC affiliate, as though hiring Brian Ross was their idea.

[UCANSEE2]

When ABC heard it was James Holmes, they published this photo of the perp.

(/s)

[RedMDer]

Keep FR Running Fight back. Counter the MSM spin machine.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

ABC's perfect defense: "Your Honor, it's been the media's practice ever since network TV news started.. it's well established. Where's the recklessness and harm?"

Suit denied.

Associated Press v. Walker, all the way to the United States Supreme Court,[33] and in 1967 the Supreme Court ruled against Edwin Walker and found that although the statements may have been false, the Associated Press was not guilty of reckless disregard in their reporting about Walker. AP had distributed the lie that former U.S. Army Major General and W.W.II special operations hero Edwin Walker had led mobs of whites against blacks at a Mississippi university campus.

(wiki source)

[Peet]

Sue the living daylights out of them.

Won't happen. (You can mock my prediction rate if I am wrong.)

This kind of thing will not stop unless and until there are real consequences for people like Brian Ross, convicted child molester[1].

Now, I am kind of an unrealistic guy, but I think Brian Ross, convicted child molester[1] needs a real beat-down. At a minimum.

P.

[1] Oops, wrong "Brian Ross". Please consider the statemant "Brian Ross, convicted child molester" corrected as regards "investigative reporter" Brian Ross.

[Paladin2]

The only solution is to trash Brian Ross.

[carlo3b]

Do you think that the rumors about Brian’s latent pedophilia is true?

[carlo3b]

..or that it is possible that Brian Ross used an AKA for a membership apt in NAMBLA?? jus sayin.. :/

[Paladin2]

The sky is the limit for Brian Ross 's potential crimes.

It's known that he likes to blow up pickup trucks.