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Washington Post
Erik Wemple is a media columnist for the Washington Post.
PROFILE
Erik Wemple
Guest
FROM Erik Wemple
To the Point
Who's lying? The battle over 'fake news' CNN retracted a story about a Russian investment fund and accepted the resignations of three journalists — including a Pulitzer Prize winner. They relied on a single source which CNN calls a "massive break in protocol." Once again, the President attacked the media in a tweet. Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, "We have gone to a place where if the media can't be trusted to report the news that's a dangerous place for America and I think if that's where certain outlets are going particularly to spike ratings and if that's coming from the top that's more scary and I think that's more disgraceful." Erik Wemple, media columnist for the Washington Post , offers an assessment.
To the Point
Scientific uncertainty and the politics of climate change Last Friday, the New York Times introduced a new, conservative columnist: Bret Stephens, former editor at the Jerusalem Post and the Wall Street Journal. He's also a former climate-change denier, who now says he believes that human activity is responsible for global warming. But, in his first column he wrote that, "claiming total certainty about the science... creates openings for doubt [when] much that passes for accepted fact is really a matter of probabilities." The response has been deafening... from readers, including scientists, saying the paper's encouraging climate-change denial. The Times' Public Editor says readers need to hear different perspectives and it's time for "Busting up the paper's mostly liberal echo chamber." But scientists say climate change should be treated as an emergency that could be worse than predicted.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Fox faces racial discrimination allegations Fox is facing a fresh round of legal troubles. This time, a group of former and current Fox News employees is charging racial discrimination. Will this torpedo 21st Century Fox’s bid to buy Britain’s Sky TV?
To the Point
Media Coverage of Paris and Beirut Atrocities in Paris have dominated the news since Friday. What about the suicide bombings in Beirut the day before? That double suicide bombing killed more than 40 innocent bystanders at a market in the Lebanese capital. By the next day, it was buried by the coordinated attacks in Paris that killed 129. Lebanese army soldiers and security forces gather as Lebanese and Hezbollah flags are erectedat the site of the two explosions that occured on Thursday in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, November 13, 2015 (Aziz Taher/Reuters)
To the Point
Columbia University on What Went Wrong with Rolling Stone Rape Story Before it was retracted by Rolling Stone magazine, the story " A Rape on Campus " generated 2.7 million page views — more than any story it's ever run that wasn't about a celebrity. Reporter Sabrina Rubin Erdely, described a nightmarish, multiple attack on a freshman called "Jackie" during a fraternity party at the University of Virginia. Rolling Stone retracted the story after police found no evidence that any such party occurred, although they said something terrible might have happened to "Jackie." Editors are now responding to a scathing assessment by the Columbia Journalism Review , which reported last night on the failure to corroborate details she — and only she — had provided. Erik Wemple is media columnist for the Washington Post , which first reported inconsistencies in the Rolling Stone story.
To the Point
To Publish or Not to Publish: Charlie Hebdo and American Media American news media are divided over whether to publish the images that infuriated Muslim extremists and apparently led to yesterday's massacre at Charlie Hebdo. The Washington Post has published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed saying "100 lashes of the whip if you don't die laughing." The Associated Press, the New York Times, CNN and NBC have declined to publish similar images. What's the relationship between journalism and satire? Do journalists need to take risks in support of satire?
To the Point
Sexual Assault, Journalism and the Law Late last month, Rolling Stone magazine published a 9000-word story alleging a gang rape at the University of Virginia's Phi Kappa Psi house. Campus administrators suspended fraternities and began an investigation. Then the Washington Post began asking questions — discovering that three crucial witnesses had never been interviewed by Rolling Stone and that the alleged victim herself has told different stories. Rolling Stone magazine first blamed the victim when it learned of the errors. Now it's confessed to bad reporting and worse editing. The incident dramatizes the challenge of getting the story right when it comes to sexual assault on campus. Some say college officials are failing to deal with an epidemic of violence against women. Others say they're trampling on the rights of accused men. Should criminal charges be turned over to the police and government prosecutors?
To the Point
Truth, Lies and the Fighting in Gaza Today’s 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza lasted about 90 minutes, and the fighting has been resumed. Now, we’ll pull back and look at what it’s like to cover this ongoing story. It’s the ultimate challenge to the very concepts of “fairness” and “balance.” What one part of the audience sees as reporting the truth the other sees as propaganda. That’s a problem — not just for journalists in the field, but also for analysts of the media.
Which Way, L.A.?
The Mystery of the Missing Malaysian Plane Early today, CNN reported that two objects picked up by satellite in the sea off Australia might be debris from Malaysian Airlines flight 370. For 13 days, there's been no solid information about what really happened to Flight 370, which is still missing. But daily news coverage continues—on TV, radio and in major newspapers. CNN has hardly covered anything else — and audiences have responded by tuning in. CNN's Anderson Cooper beat Bill O'Reilly on Fox News, a rare event in the cable news world.
To the Point
The Mystery of the Missing Malaysian Plane Early today, CNN reported that two objects picked up by satellite in the sea off Australia might be debris from Malaysian Airlines flight 370. For 13 days, there's been no solid information about what really happened to Flight 370, which is still missing. But daily news coverage continues—on TV, radio and in major newspapers. CNN has hardly covered anything else — and audiences have responded by tuning in. CNN's Anderson Cooper beat Bill O'Reilly on Fox News, a rare event in the cable news world.
To the Point
National Security, Government 'Spin' and the First Amendment Last Friday, the Associated Press learned that the Justice Department had obtained records for more than 20 separate telephone lines" for reporters' office phones, home phones and cell phones. Despite regulations that require negotiations to protect First Amendment rights, the records were seized in secret. Politicians of both parties have jumped to defend the free press, and President Obama has renewed talk of a reporters’ shield law . Attorney General Eric Holder justified the seizure because "it put the American people at risk and that is not hyperbole." Was it really a case of national security or "spin" to control a story about the CIA infiltrating al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula? Did the Obama administration intrude on a free press? Will the news media be able to protect the next "Deep Throat" in the digital age?
Recommended
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.