Comments on: The Rush To Be Wrong http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/ Military.com's News and National Policy Blog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:58:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark Drapeauhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-325 Mark Drapeau Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:20:44 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-325 I am going to use this in my class at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. Thanks for a great piece. I am going to use this in my class at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. Thanks for a great piece.

]]> By: USMC grunthttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-318 USMC grunt Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:56:24 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-318 I agree with the principle of the story above, but why hasn't anyone else pointed out the fact that CNN was not the only one that flubbed this? I watch FoxNews all day, every day, in my office, and they covered the exact same story, verbatim with the same conclusion jumps, at the same time that CNN did. I'm normally not a fan of CNN, and me coming to their defense is a first... but this story should focus on the underlying journalism errors, rather than being a forum for bashing CNN. I agree with the principle of the story above, but why hasn’t anyone else pointed out the fact that CNN was not the only one that flubbed this? I watch FoxNews all day, every day, in my office, and they covered the exact same story, verbatim with the same conclusion jumps, at the same time that CNN did. I’m normally not a fan of CNN, and me coming to their defense is a first… but this story should focus on the underlying journalism errors, rather than being a forum for bashing CNN.

]]> By: Johnhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-315 John Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:14:27 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-315 Since the Coast Guard, regardless whose umbrella they've been under, has always operated under severe fiscal restraints for the missions they are responsible for, as MCPOCG8 can attest, maybe we should look at this another way. At the end of the day, we're likely to find out that Command made the decision that since the security detail was already to be in place, fuel conservation might suggest that conducting the exercise while on the detail might be the prudent thing to do. It's unfortunate that the surviving families feel the way they do, according to the spokesperson. That's a double edged public relations sword that has unfortunately cut the Coast Guard in a negative way. But let's hope the whole event can be turned into a learing experience for all involved. Semper Paratus Since the Coast Guard, regardless whose umbrella they’ve been under, has always operated under severe fiscal restraints for the missions they are responsible for, as MCPOCG8 can attest, maybe we should look at this another way. At the end of the day, we’re likely to find out that Command made the decision that since the security detail was already to be in place, fuel conservation might suggest that conducting the exercise while on the detail might be the prudent thing to do. It’s unfortunate that the surviving families feel the way they do, according to the spokesperson. That’s a double edged public relations sword that has unfortunately cut the Coast Guard in a negative way. But let’s hope the whole event can be turned into a learing experience for all involved.
Semper Paratus

]]> By: Johnhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-314 John Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:06:30 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-314 Enter text right here! Stimulating, huh? CNN's efforts to research the incident were directed to CGHQ, rather than the operational control for the area, Sector Baltimore according to VADM Currier's explanation. I don't know whether the talking head, Heidi Collins, was reporting from DC or Atlanta, but I would presume that a local reporter might know who controls the area, while an Atlanta based reporter might not. But i've got to believe that it was a local reporter that heard the scanner. Also, VADM Currier stated that it was generally accepted practice to announce "This is an exercise" or "This is a drill" prior to a string of transmissions relating to a simulated response to an incursion. Who's to say that transmission wasn't made, but missed by the listener, after all it was a scanner, presumably scanning Virginia State Police, Maryland State Police. Metropolitan Police and all of the Capital Region Fire and EMS frequencies, not to mention the myriad of Governmental LEO's. Enter text right here! Stimulating, huh? CNN’s efforts to research the incident were directed to CGHQ, rather than the operational control for the area, Sector Baltimore according to VADM Currier’s explanation. I don’t know whether the talking head, Heidi Collins, was reporting from DC or Atlanta, but I would presume that a local reporter might know who controls the area, while an Atlanta based reporter might not. But i’ve got to believe that it was a local reporter that heard the scanner. Also, VADM Currier stated that it was generally accepted practice to announce “This is an exercise” or “This is a drill” prior to a string of transmissions relating to a simulated response to an incursion. Who’s to say that transmission wasn’t made, but missed by the listener, after all it was a scanner, presumably scanning Virginia State Police, Maryland State Police. Metropolitan Police and all of the Capital Region Fire and EMS frequencies, not to mention the myriad of Governmental LEO’s.

]]> By: Jasonhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-312 Jason Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:20:08 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-312 Criminitly, I'd rather our stalwart Coasties spend 9/11 doing their goddamn job than PR-whoring it up with CNN, people. The blame here is 100 percent CNN, 0 percent Coast GUard!! Criminitly, I’d rather our stalwart Coasties spend 9/11 doing their goddamn job than PR-whoring it up with CNN, people. The blame here is 100 percent CNN, 0 percent Coast GUard!!

]]> By: » Better To Be Right, Than Firsthttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-310 » Better To Be Right, Than First Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:22:15 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-310 [...] indicative of deeper problems in the television news industry. In a thoughtful essay titled “The Rush To Be Wrong, How Lower Standards Sparked the Panic on the Potomac,” he notes that CNN is one of the few networks that still routinely monitors police radios to [...] […] indicative of deeper problems in the television news industry. In a thoughtful essay titled “The Rush To Be Wrong, How Lower Standards Sparked the Panic on the Potomac,” he notes that CNN is one of the few networks that still routinely monitors police radios to […]

]]> By: Gail Graffhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-308 Gail Graff Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:37:52 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-308 oy...same stuff....different suspects. CNN's staff would have Marion Barry heading to a DC hospital too ! What ever happened to three sources, anyway. Oh, that's right...there aren't three staff members to make three calls anymore! oy…same stuff.…different suspects. CNN’s staff would have Marion Barry heading to a DC hospital too ! What ever happened to three sources, anyway.
Oh, that’s right…there aren’t three staff members to make three calls anymore!

]]> By: Charlie Hoffhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-307 Charlie Hoff Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:31:00 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-307 Way to go Jamie. There is no excuse for rushing to air with this incident, the fact that it was 9/11 intensified the impact and the possible damage. The first rule in journalism used to be VERIFY. Now the first rule seems to be GET IT ON THE AIR. I wonder what the banners read; no doubt "Breaking News," "LIVE," "Happening Now" and possibly "CNN Exclusive" - all of which made it nearly impossible to really see what those affiliate pictures were showing. I mourn. Way to go Jamie. There is no excuse for rushing to air with this incident, the fact that it was 9/11 intensified the impact and the possible damage. The first rule in journalism used to be VERIFY. Now the first rule seems to be GET IT ON THE AIR. I wonder what the banners read; no doubt “Breaking News,” “LIVE,” “Happening Now” and possibly “CNN Exclusive” — all of which made it nearly impossible to really see what those affiliate pictures were showing. I mourn.

]]> By: Homer McGunthttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-2/#comment-306 Homer McGunt Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:00:29 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-306 Outstanding piece. This belongs in journalism school curriculum. Outstanding piece. This belongs in journalism school curriculum.

]]> By: Guesthttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/09/12/the-rush-to-be-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-305 Guest Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:54:25 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=433#comment-305 Thanks for being with us, you're watching "The Panic Room". You nailed it with the Journalism 101 Jamie. It wasnt long ago that cable newsers could say that 'accountability' separated them from the blogosphere. They'd tell you bloggers can write what they want and they're allowed to be wrong because there is no one who can do anything about it. Unfortunately that line is shrinking. CNN has not apologized for the hysterics they caused and has held no one accountable for their mistake... so I feel I can safely blog that cable news will be a blog unless the make some serious changes. Thanks for being with us, you’re watching “The Panic Room”.

You nailed it with the Journalism 101 Jamie. It wasnt long ago that cable newsers could say that ‘accountability’ separated them from the blogosphere. They’d tell you bloggers can write what they want and they’re allowed to be wrong because there is no one who can do anything about it. Unfortunately that line is shrinking.
CNN has not apologized for the hysterics they caused and has held no one accountable for their mistake… so I feel I can safely blog that cable news will be a blog unless the make some serious changes.

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