The media owes Toyota an apology
Posted by ampontan on Sunday, February 13, 2011
ED WALLACE writing in Bloomsberg Business Week thinks that America’s mass media, and CBS in particular, owes Toyota an apology after their story about unintended acceleration in those automobiles was shown to be a hobgoblin. He wrote a year ago that it was all so much humbug, but he isn’t gloating:
What I would prefer…is that the media would take the time to report a story accurately rather than just stir up a public frenzy in pursuit of ratings.
He reviews the problems with the media coverage, including an ill-advised reliance on self-proclaimed experts using someone else’s difficulties as a way to cash in. Come to think of it, wasn’t that what they all were doing? Mr. Wallace then concludes:
The first job of a journalist is to ask, “Is this information true?” It’s obvious that when it comes to automobiles, that’s the last question the broadcast media want answered.
Substitute “everything” in the above quote for “automobiles”, and we get to the core of the problem. Falsus in unum, falsus in omnibus.
Toyota deserves an apology, but everyone knows they won’t get one.
Thanks to RB for the link.
Aceface said
CBS?１Not ABC?
http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2010&d=0320&f=business_0320_028.shtml
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A: Wallace focuses on CBS and Katie Couric, but they’re all badgers from the same hole.
- A.
Aceface said
I know.But I can understand CBS.ABC would probably lose IF Toyota bring the case into court.///
Rick Boyett said
Hi Ace,
You’re right, Wallace does focus on CBS. But if he focused on all the badgers, he’d end up writing a book that would make “Gone With the Wind” look like a short story. (^_^)
21st Century Schizoid Man said
I was always told by my mother that I should hold for five sec before I yell out. My mom’s always right.