Even the best of us can make mistakes, but…

Recently, the local paper published an article where they announced that a Carthage man had died from injuries received in a traffic accident. The only problem is – they received bad information. Hours later, they found they were incorrect, and the gentleman was, in fact, alive in an Indianapolis hospital.

An information source is only as good as its sources, and it is imperative, especially when dealing with issues such as these, that that information is correct. I can think of no worse error an information source can make than to falsely report a death. I am sure this caused great anguish and questions for the family and friends of the gentleman involved. I hope for the family of those involved in situations like this that better controls on reporting are put into place.

A retraction is a first step, but an apology might be more fitting. Mistakes happen, but mistakes like this should be avoided at all costs. At any rate, let’s move past this – after all we all make mistakes.

…and the questions are:

1. What is the current condition of the victim?

2. What is the long term prognosis?

3. Who reported the story?

4. What controls could help to avoid this type situation in the future?

Comments

[concerned family member]

It not only affected the victims family, but also it was horrifying for the family of the young lady who he pulled in front of. Although not her fault, the thought that he had died was devastating for the family. Mistakes happen, but the paper better explain how it happened and do everything it can to ensure it does not happen again.

[whatever]

Did the Republican print a retraction? If they did, I did not see it. Also thought it was in bad taste to print the picture of the distraught driver that hit him on the front page!

[Truth Seeker]

Personally, I feel that the reporter who reported this should be fired! A reporter should always verify his information before writing the story. There is no journalistic integrity here period!!! I am truly sorry for both families involved in the accident. God bless both families.

[mark]

TOTAL DISRESPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND ON TOP OF THAT............THEY PRINT A VERY SMALL RETRACTION ????YES, THIS REPORTER SHOULD BE LAID OFF!!!!!!!!!!!MAYBE 6 MOS., SO HE CAN GO TO JOURNALISM SCHOOL !!!!

[r.k.]

hey guess what he did die

[Full Disclosure]

So does that somehow make it right that they screwed it up the first time? I guess whatever they print is fine as long as the final result is the same. Sad if you are trying to defend what the Republican did and did not do.

[VideoGuy]

I wouldn't blame the reporter. Reporters today have more to do and wear many hats. I would blame the owner of the newspaper who has scaled down our newspaper to the point that those who still work there have to do the job of many just to get the paper out to print. Lowering the number of days to print did not help any as the staff was cut even more. The paper is a for profit company and it's owners are only interested in the bottom line. The days of high quality journalism is long gone. Edward R. Murrow would be so disgusted by what has happened in the field of journalism in the wake of the all mighty dollar. A once proud profession has been relegated to cut and paste, and a stack of contributed articles. The time to do in depth stories with checks and balances in place have long gone for the most part. We have become an immediate society and now rely on news from not so reliable sources. Information in the form of "bits" has come around to "byte" us in the you know what.

[full disclosure]

Not knowing all the facts, I still have to blame the reporter. I mean if it was the date of the Carthage Fish Fry, or the Noble Niters Bridge Club benefit dinner, then I am not too concerned. But a reporter should never be in too much of a hurry to verfiy a death. I mean the paper is only printed three days a week, should not be too much of a hurry anyway.

I still think the paper owes a major apology to the the friends and family of the victim and the poor lady he ran into and they owe a better explanation to us, the readers, as to how they screwed it up.

[been there]

It happened and it was a mistake on the papers part. The day of the accident there were reports that the gentleman had passed away shortly after it happened. The reporters are human and mistakes happen. How about a prayer for all involved: The man's family, the young lady who was involved in the crash and the newspaper ..God be with all of you.