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
Comparing Internet vs. Paper in Newspaper Source Surveys
This study compared paper versus mixed-mode data collection in accuracy surveys of newspaper sources in 20 markets. Mixed-mode data collection enhanced survey participation and quality.
Gross negligence ‘medical’ manslaughter in Ireland: Legal context and clinician concerns
In recent years, the prospect of the criminal prosecution of medical practitioners for patient safety incidents resulting in fatality which occur in the course of clinical practice has caused heightened anxiety among medical practitioners, particularly in England and Wales, where a number of high-profile cases have raised public consciousness of this issue. The full impact of this landscape on individual practitioners and the delivery of healthcare has yet to be ascertained, although research suggests that medical practice has been impacted. Of particular interest is the phenomenon of defensive medicine which occurs where physicians adopt assurance and/or avoidance behaviours in an attempt to minimise the risk of medical negligence litigation and/or to avoid complaints to regulatory bodies. While defensive medicine is traditionally conceived of in a civil context, the possibility of criminal prosecution for patient safety incidents resulting in fatality may also result in alterations to medical practice. Drawing on the findings of an empirical study (a survey), this research sought to explore the impact, if any, of the threat of criminal prosecution on surgical practice in the Republic of Ireland, including a potential rise in defensive practice.