Newspaper Errors: Reporters Dispute Most Source Claims
Research on newspaper accuracy has shown that news sources contend that about half the newspaper articles citing them contain at least one mistake^—usually a misquote, omission or distorted emphasis. But, most ofthe half dozen studies which examined errors in newspapers excluded the reporter from the analysis, concentrating almost entirely on the perceptions of news sources. One study which did look at reporter response found that a reporter's focusing on a particular element of a story, considered an "extremely newsworthy angle" by the reporter, can be considered an error of overemphasis by the source.^ Reporter-source disagreement over such things as story angle and even whether the reporter considers a source-perceived error to actually be an error has been neglected in past research. This investigation was designed to look at reporter perceptions of error, as well as source perceptions, and to determine some of the causes of error in newspaper stories. The study examines whether error varies by reporter experience, by deadline, and by type of content or length. Although reporter views are generally not known, the number of stories containing error, according to sources in five major source accuracy studies dating from the 1930s, ranges from 40% to 60% of all locally produced news items.^ The perceived rate of error in these five studies ranges from three to six mistakes in every four stories. Between half and two-thirds of these sourceperceived errors are judgmental determinations, depending on how misquotes are classified. Berry* listed subjective errors as including omissions, distortions of
The Comparative Approach: Key to More Effective Writing
The study of journalistic practices in other countries and cultures not only makes clearer the context in which we write; it also helps to reveal better ways of handling complicated subject matter. The author, a long-time foreign correspondent, advocates use of the comparative method to raise standards.
Practical, legal, and ethical issues in expanded access to investigational drugs.
The authors review the FDA policies and procedures that permit some patients with serious conditions to receive investigational drugs before formal product approval and examine the legal and ethical issues associated with expanded access.