The Goof Heard ‘Round the World
In case anyone needs proof of the mass media’s tendency to repeat government pronouncements without bothering to check their accuracy, here’s a small but telling example:
Inexplicably, when the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memo last month explaining that it would generally refrain from prosecuting medical marijuana activities that are clearly legal under state law, it mistakenly indicated that there are 14 medical marijuana states. DOJ’s goof was to include Maryland, where medical marijuana is not actually legal, but where state law provides for reduced penalties to patients who successfully present a medical-necessity defense.
DOJ’s goof has now traveled though most of the known universe, repeated by credulous news media. The Associated Press, after talking to MPP, at least included an explanatory note about the discrepancy, but others just repeated the mistake with no explanation, including Katie Couric of CBS, the Washington Post, Voice of America, the Guardian of London, and even the editorial page of the New York Times.
C’mon, guys, tell me that fact-checking isn’t entirely dead. Kudos to those media outlets that got it right, including CNN.
Tagged with: Eric Holder and Media and Obama by the author
13 comments
too bad cnn claimed that the 44% from gallop polls was people who were in favor of medical marijuana
lol retards everywhere…. they should quit drinking alcohol, its affecting their brain matter.
Saw that skinny blond bomb thrower on Fox claiming no one gets arrested for MJ.anymore.
I’ve done about a dozen interviews in the past year, and only gotten a call from a fact checker once. I was actually quite surprised when I did get the call because I didn’t even realize that professional media outlets do fact checking.
i bet they only do fact checking if someone at the station disagrees with the info that they get…. other than that, they let it fly…..
Maybe they are anticipating at least one more state approving a MMJ program soon and don’t want it to seem as though the number of states is rising and is intentionally using 14 as the number?
Well, thats not good! Lets all just go like lemmings over the edge….propaganda can be spread WAY too easiliy if the media doesnt..’cough’..do its job. Good grief…well at least you guys are paying attention MMP.
Well Bruce, the good news is, because of sites like MPP ( where most of us interested or involved with this issue go for the REAL news), we can stay informed and we can go to these people who are misinformed and insist that they recant, rebut, tell the truth or just get the hell out of the way so WE can go where we know we can get the facts….in fact, I’m on my way to tell them what those facts are right now…..peace.
BTW Bruce, I recently read that we have 10 more states with MMJ bills either being considered or pending. I’d thought I’d read that at Americans for Safe Access. org, but now I can’t find the article….help?
Another 10 would be good. I think once the majority of states legalize the government will step up. That’s how it became illegal. One state at a time.
Actually 14. http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=002481
Fourteen states have legalized medical marijuana, but California and Colorado are unique in their use of storefront dispensaries. Three other states – Maine, New Mexico and Rhode Island – are now moving to license providers, said Bruce Mirken, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project.
How is it wrong when they report it but correct when you report it? Im confused
Uh, confused, I didn’t report it. The reporter got it wrong.
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