Quote Of The Day #2: The Media’s Fact-Checking System

by John Hawkins | May 16, 2005 12:56 am

“The media does in fact have an impressive fact-checking system.

If a quote or purported fact portrays Republicans, the military, or America generally in a positive light, they check it to death to make sure they’re not spreading propaganda.

But… if the quote or purported fact portrays those things in a negative light, it pretty much gets into print with only the most cursory once-over by the editors. If it agrees with their basic world-view — if it feels “right” in their gut — then it runs.

Fact-checking comes later…” — Ace[1] on Newsweek retracting their claim that the Koran was defiled at Guantanamo.