Errors and Omissions

A significant omission

From the May 18 WSJ (correction repeated on May 19):

THE MAY 16 ARTICLE "Rove's Camp Takes Center of Web Storm" about Internet postings on the investigation into presidential adviser Karl Rove mentioned a lawsuit filed by former Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal against Matt Drudge for a report alleging Mr. Blumenthal had a history of spousal abuse. The story accurately stated that the parties reached a settlement involving Mr. Blumenthal paying Mr. Drudge $2,500 but failed to note that Mr. Drudge had retracted and apologized for the report.

This was a significant mistake by the Journal. By omitting the fact that Drudge had apologized and retracted his assertion, but included the fact Blumenthal had paid money to Drudge, they led the reader to believe that he was guilty of the charge. And given the stigma associated with wife-beating, the Journal had an extra obligation to be scrupulously complete in its reporting.

Blumenthal was one of the Journal editorial page's whipping boys during the Clinton administration. That additional fact calls into question the Journal's objectivity and raises questions of leakage between news and editorial that damage the Journal.

posted by Unknown @ 5/19/2006 01:18:00 PM