Found this really cool article. It shows the actual emails between reporters and sources, getting info for the Gov. Spitzer case, as well as emails between the reporters, working out how exactly to present the story. They obtained more than 1,300 pages of email due to NY's open records law and have pulled out just some of them. Gawker states that "
Did the reporters go to far on clearing all these quotes through the gov's office? Or is this just a journalist trying to be extra ethical and getting grilled since it went public?
3 comments:
I think it all plays into what Angelia said about how they "use" each other. I think that reporters have to be a certain level of "cozy." As long as they are not withholding info, i do not have a problem with them double-checking info, etc.
BUT- how cozy is too cozy is a great question!
You shouldn't have to clear any quotes with the government. So long as you have it documented that it's what was actually said, and it's factual, then there is no need to get confirmation of use. The government is a public body - the most public of institutions. It should go without saying that we have an inalienable right to hear anything they say.
No matter how much it may hurt their stock.
Yes, I certainly thought that was over the top. But it also seems like that's the way business is done. We just don't normally get to see it so laid out like this in the actual communications. It's balancing game of keeping sources happy, but I get the feeling it often goes like this!
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