Huh?
I’m looking for reader input on whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge “facts” that are asserted by newsmakers they write about.
Atrios says:
[W]hen the New York Times prints something, most readers assume that they have, in fact, made a modest effort to determine the truth or falsehood of it.
Simon Malloy says:
Newsmakers already have people to repeat what they say without challenge. They're called CNN.
This is an expression of an irrational, overpowering fear of anything that could be misconstrued as a viewpoint. It has so thoroughly permeated our news establishment that the paper of record is having an existential crisis over whether they should make sure what they present to their readers as news is true.
This, in turn, is a symptom of valuing the appearance of objectivity over accuracy -- itself a pointless endeavor, given that the catcalls of "bias" will continue no matter what steps the Times takes.
The New York Times has just admitted that it prints lies out of fear that someone will accuse it of bias.
Not a good thing to admit.