You may remember this little piece from NYT public editor Arthur Brisbane titled "Should the Times Be a Truth Vigilante?," which began:
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.
Brisbane, in a follow-up to the original post, clarified that he was asking:
whether The Times, in the text of news columns, should more aggressively rebut “facts” that are offered by newsmakers when those “facts” are in question.
No one really noticed Brisbane's little query. Certainly not on Dkos. There wasn't this front page diary by Hunter, or a bunch of other highly recommended ones here on Big Orange. And it also wasn't literally all over the internet and media criticism discussions, well, everywhere.
Folks, a few days after this small kerfuffle, we may be seeing some progress. Take a look at this article by Jeff Zeleny and Jim Rutenberg from today's edition of the Grey Lady. Here is the section to focus on:
“The fact is more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history,” Mr. Gingrich said, a claim that is numerically true but ignored the depth of the recession that Mr. Obama inherited when he took office. (emphasis mine)
Whoa! That is, I'd have to say, pretty much exactly the way a NYT "truth vigilante" would present that kind of statement from Gingrich. One could have gone farther, perhaps, but for a news article I'd call that a home run.
The authors did what Brisbane (and his readers) were asking for. They provided real context by presenting the information necessary to understand why the quote (from Gingrich in this case) isn't accurate.
Are the news editors listening to Brisbane? More accurately, it seems they are listening to the readers (not to mention other journalists and commentators) who replied to Brisbane, in his words:
yes, you moron, The Times should check facts and print the truth.
This is a good thing. Unequivocally. Let's sing this from the rooftops. Most parents know that in addition to scolding or punishing bad behavior, we have to also praise good behavior, provide positive reinforcement. Consider this diary the latter. Spread the word.