WNEP cites wrong source for story
I was surprised tonight when I saw WNEP credit Wikipedia in a story about murdered gay pornographer Bryan Kocis. The credit came in an on-screen graphic (left) that had Kocis' picture, which was taken from his entry on the online encyclopedia.Why the trouble? Wikipedia has had its share of accuracy problems, including an article that claimed journalist John Siegenthaler was a suspect in the JFK assassination. Jimmy Wales, the website's founder, even says he doesn't think people should cite Wikipedia as a source; rather, it should be used for background information.
However, there is no accuracy problem with Kocis' picture, as it is him. How do I know? Like any journalist, I check the source, which shows that Kocis' picture actually came from this Citizens' Voice article.
Seems like WNEP credited the wrong source for the photo.
posted by Howard Beale at 10:04 PM
20 Comments:
Good Lord are they getting lazy up there. WTF !
They've been running that still a lot since the fire a week ago... sure took enough time before it was caught.
And what, no file video? Was this a case that wasn't intersting enough to follow? They had video of a raid, but not him walking into court?
but wait a minute -- if you copy the photo off wikipedia, isn't that the source? the did not get the photo from the cv, even if that is its origin.
Typical "Newswatch 16" these days. Wrong credit for sources or no credit at all, missed stories, inaccurate information, bad writing, shakey video.
Who are they going to steal info from to get the latest they miss on Hugo? Newspapers.. Miss the story, mis-cite AWAY!!! But, hey, loved that beer story!!!
Since it's been years since Times Shamrock was willing to share photos with WNEP, perhaps the Wiki sourcing is a way to use a Voice pic without having to ask and be refused. The photo on the Voice site is uncredited (and entirely too large with scary color correction). Did they shoot it or grab it from News Alliance video? The photo may be three times removed from its original source, which could be WBRE.
2:38PM...
Let's not make excuses. If they had to go to wikipedia for info/material that's just sad. I'd expect that from Nexstar, not from the "still the one" station.
Either they were lazy or had to play catch-up on the story and were desperate.
I think 8:50 PM nailed it.
I'm not worried about the accuracy--that's obviously a picture of Kocis--I'm worried about the attribution.
The more I look at the pic the more convinced I am that it's a WBRE lift given to the CV. Andy Mehalshick broke the original porn bust story and had it all to himself for days.
The question for WNEP: are you that dumb, or that devious? Simply dense or seriously dishonest?
16 has cut a lot of corners in recent years figuring, "Hey, we're WNEP, we can get away with it." Is this another example?
Last night they showed film of the Trucksville Sheetz to accompany a piece about a Sheetz out in the western part of the state selling beer. Misleading.
2:38 said -- But wait a minute -- if you copy the photo off Wikipedia, isn't that the source? They did not get the photo from the cv, even if that is its origin.
I use the Internet a lot when researching my "Wax Museum" music column ("Every Friday, exclusively in the Citizens' Voice!") and often find that the site I'm viewing has used another site, or source, for their material. So when I credit them for whatever I do, be it quote or paraphrase, I might say: "From jerkoff.com, which seems to have used @hole.net as its source."
In other words, I try to credit the original source, but give where I got it a plug as my own source.
Andy Mehalshick broke the original porn bust story and had it all to himself for days.
That will come as news to an awful lot of people.
Last night they showed film of the Trucksville Sheetz to accompany a piece about a Sheetz out in the western part of the state selling beer. Misleading.
That's essentially "localizing" a story. Misleading? Ahhh, I don't know about that. The relevance, obviously, is that Sheetz has outlets in NE PA, so they could also end up selling beer.
Simply dense or seriously dishonest?
16 has cut a lot of corners in recent years figuring, "Hey, we're WNEP, we can get away with it." Is this another example?
9:25 AM
Would "recent years" essentially cover the time of the current news director? Is he leading the way downhill or are the problems with missing stories, accuracy, lack of attribution, etc., just coincidental to his reign? If the news director is the main problem, wouldn't he have been replaced?
as long as 16 has this blindly loyal following they have no reason to pay attention to details.
Too bad Nexstar's stations are located in such a backward area where quality and accuracy just don't matter
"If the news director is the main problem, wouldn't he have been replaced?
1:34 PM"
Dennis Fisher is a problem, but he's not
the problem.
WNEP, like most TV stations, is doing more with less these days. More newscasts with less (and less experienced) people. 16's rep and "the halo effect" keep the average viewer from noticing the cost-and-corner cutting. The New York times has been stressing "Big B Bucks" over "Big J Journalism" and getting away with it for some time now. Fisher has just been along for the ride--or is that slide?
Too bad Nexstar's stations are located in such a backward area where quality and accuracy just don't matter
As a poor soul who lives here in the "backward area," you really don't want to know what I think of you for making that remark. Let's just say moron would be good start. If you don't like it here, go, go tomorrow, go anywhere. We'll muddle through without your devotion and dedication to "quality and accuracy." It won't be easy, but we'll manage somehow.
LOL!!!
The "blame the cuts" mantra doesn't cut it. Just because corporations aren't spending money on the product anymore doesn't give "journalists" the right to cut corners on facts, ethics and storytelling!
True journalists don't do this for the money...and knowing what we make, you'd know that. It's love of telling stories and uncovering lies and spreading knowledge.
To cut corners then blame "less money from the top" is a load of crap.
If I'm the news director at WNEP, I'm going to do the best I can under the circumstances. Cut my staff and money? Maybe the newscasts will cover fewer stories and have fewer live shots, but I'll make sure it's still a quality effort.
16 gets facts wrong, gets scooped on important stories, takes it on the chin for vnr and source problems and seems to forget ethics all too often.
What's the 16 boss doing?
I will try to explain to the uninitiated...
OMG! Go Joe!! We love you Sherman!! We're so backward we don't care about VNR's! God Bless Scott and Julie! If you don't like it, change the channel. We're so backward we don't care about source attribution. Hurry back, Kim! Welcome Sarah. Ryan Leckey is sooooo hot!!! We're so backward we don't care about Paola giggling her way through a story about Amber Alerts. WNEP Rocks!
Now, please explain again why 16 should give any kind of attention to ethics or propriety
To 6:08PM--
You, sir or madam, have hit the WNEP zeitgeist on the head.
The sad thing is that the very traits that make 16 so insufferable also make it endearing to its fans. And none of those traits has anything to do with journalism.
WELL WNEP IS STILL TRYING TO DELIVER NEWS WITHOUT DOING THE WORK. IF YOU ARE A GOOD "SUCK-UP" YOU CAN HAVE ANY JOB IN THE NEWSROOM OR IN PRODUCTION AT THE BIG 16. IF YOU HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF NEWS BUT FORGET TO SUCK ASS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK, YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT THERE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WAY A NEWSROOM WORKS, IT STARTS AT THE NEWS DESK. THE ASSIGNMENT EDITOR (IF HE IS NOT BUSY WATCHING HOCKEY GAMES ON THE TUBE AND DID NOT TURN THE SCANNERS DOWN BECAUSE THEY INTERFERE WITH HIS GAME) GETS THE INFO ON A STORY. THAT PERSON THEN VALIDATES THE INFORMATION (OFTEN BY CONTACTING A FRIEND OR TWO HE HAS STASHED IN CERTAIN IMPORTANT PLACES) AND SENDS THE REPORTER AND PHOTOGRAPHER OUT TO COVER THE STORY. WHEN THEY RETURN, THE REPORTER WRITES THE STORY WHILE THE PHOTOGRAPHER, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE REPORTER EDITS THE VIDEO. THE STORY IS THEN APPROVED BY THE PRODUCER (IF HE/SHE IS NOT TOO BUSY WATCHING A PHILLIES BASEBALL GAME, OR ASKING THE QUESTION, "DO I KNOW THEM AND ARE THEY DEAD? IF NOT, SAVE IT FOR MORNING" TO ADD THE STORY TO THEIR RUNDOWN. THE RUNDOWN IS THE LIST OF STORIES IN THE ORDER THEY WILL BE BROADCAST ON THE NEXT SHOW. WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS HOW TO KEEP UP ON THE LATEST THAT IS GOING ON, BUT FAILS TO KISS THE RIGHT ASS OR JOIN THE CLIQUE, HE IS OUT. HOW THE HELL IS THAT GOING TO WORK? ASK THE ASSIGNMENT DESK PEOPLE WHEN YOU CALL IN TO THE NEWSROOM.....WELL, IF THE EDITOR IS NOT TOO MISERABLE. GOOD LUCK.
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