Even if it’s true doesn’t mean you should say it
Capital Games: More on the Pentagon’s Koran Fib: “First there were no credible allegations; now the Pentagon admits there were ‘incidents.
(Via The Nation Weblogs.)
So what! What possible good or public interest was served by reporting this in the first place? What the hell did Newsweek think would happen?! In their childish quest for a scoop, they poured lighter fluid on a fire.
It was totally irresponsible, and it doesn’t matter if it was true or not. Reporters are supposed to use judgement. For the same reason they wouldn’t publish military information that could jeopardize lives, they shouldn’t have published this.
To defend reporting this because it is true just misses the point. Shame on Newsweek.
