As bloggers, we probably all know that you can't trust a lot of what you read online. For some reason, though, I tend to trust what I read when it's in print. Maybe because it's not as easy to delete? Maybe because of all those fact-filled Weekly Readers forced upon me in school? Maybe because real people work in newsrooms and not in their mother's basement?
Yet, I'm becoming more aware, at least when it comes to our city paper, The Plain Dealer, that some of their news is not fit to print. Live here long enough, and you will know someone who works in a mayor's office, or sits on a school board, or works for a fortune 500 company and will tell you that, no, what the paper reported either didn't happen at all or only about half of what was stated as fact was true.
Then, this happened. I was looking through a special edition of the Friday section of popular places around town and the circled portion below caught my eye:
SuziB sent in her suggestions of three favorite spots to entertain out-of-town guests: Maison Martel, Bill Crockers, and The Wine Merchant. Why did that catch my eye? Maison Martel was our favorite restaurant to go for special occasions . . . back in the late 1980's! I went to Bill Crocker's for New Year's Eve with a date (not my spouse) . . . in 1983! My parents went to The Wine Merchant for their anniversary . . . in the late 1970's!
All of those places have been closed for at least 25 years. So first, SuziB is my age or older and was either high when she sent in those ideas or has dementia. But more importantly, why in the world is the newspaper not vetting these things??
My husband and I had some good laughs out of it. We started coming up with all sorts of things we could send in to the newspaper next time it asked for local suggestions: Have a margarita at Chi Chi's, dinner at Mountain Jack's, and then go party at Swingo's . . . like it's 1979!
Yet, I'm becoming more aware, at least when it comes to our city paper, The Plain Dealer, that some of their news is not fit to print. Live here long enough, and you will know someone who works in a mayor's office, or sits on a school board, or works for a fortune 500 company and will tell you that, no, what the paper reported either didn't happen at all or only about half of what was stated as fact was true.
Then, this happened. I was looking through a special edition of the Friday section of popular places around town and the circled portion below caught my eye:
SuziB sent in her suggestions of three favorite spots to entertain out-of-town guests: Maison Martel, Bill Crockers, and The Wine Merchant. Why did that catch my eye? Maison Martel was our favorite restaurant to go for special occasions . . . back in the late 1980's! I went to Bill Crocker's for New Year's Eve with a date (not my spouse) . . . in 1983! My parents went to The Wine Merchant for their anniversary . . . in the late 1970's!
All of those places have been closed for at least 25 years. So first, SuziB is my age or older and was either high when she sent in those ideas or has dementia. But more importantly, why in the world is the newspaper not vetting these things??
My husband and I had some good laughs out of it. We started coming up with all sorts of things we could send in to the newspaper next time it asked for local suggestions: Have a margarita at Chi Chi's, dinner at Mountain Jack's, and then go party at Swingo's . . . like it's 1979!
Indication that much of fake news is just lazy editing. No excuse.
ReplyDeleteLazy editing in this case, but it seems as though a lot of 'sources' the paper uses are just people making crap up!
DeleteHoly crap! As a former newspaper reporter, I'm stunned. Mistakes happen, certainly, but not checking on this places to see if they, uh, like, still exist is a whopper.
ReplyDeleteI once applied for a job at the Plain Dealer--it's a nationally known newspaper. I would imagine that they got some snarky comments about this.
Great post, Bijoux. Now you'll have to excuse me; I'm meeting a date at the Stork Club!
I actually tried to report it on their website, but was unable to do so. They make it impossible to even report a missing paper! Their website just plain sucks. That's surprising that you applied for a job with them! And I hope you post on your date!!!
DeleteRob, you crack me up! I just realized the Stork Club is from the 60's . . . Bahahaha!
Deletelol well that is rather sad. Maybe they wanted to start a revolution of bringing back old places. Or just very very lazy editing. I'll go with the latter.
ReplyDeleteThe funny part is that I got excited, thinking Maison Martel was back in business, even though I knew that the owner had passed away in 2010. Oh well!
DeleteMaybe they needed some "filler" and that was the filler they chose? But still they could have checked their facts out just a little more carefully. Had to laugh of a recent story reported on the local evening news here. It was about an injury a woman had sustained because of her use with a sex toy. Apparently it got some place it shouldn't have gotten and the lady involved wanted to make sure others were aware of it in case similar happened to them. My hubby and me are just looking at each other and saying "this is newsworthy??"
ReplyDeletebetty
Lol, YES! Omg on the local 'news!' They are often desperate for something to report. So much if it is recycled news, too.
Delete"But more importantly, why in the world is the newspaper not vetting these things??"
ReplyDeleteYes, you are absolutely right....WHY are they not vetting these things?!?
I pretty much question a lot of things I read or even watch on the news because much of it is sensationalized. Being in the beauty industry, I discovered years ago that MANY of the reviews you find online about beauty products are either written by the people who created the product, giving RAVE reviews. Or, their competitors who pretend to be customers and leave negative reviews as a mean of deterring sales. It's hard to trust either.
Have a FAB weekend, my friend!
Yes, everything is sensationalized, from the weather to health. This whole coronavirus thing has been blown out of proportion. How many tens of thousands of people die every year from the common flu? I can't get worked up over it. I'm just glad my son and his new wife went to China a few months ago and didn't have to worry about trying to get back here. What a nightmare to be stuck in a country because flights are all canceled.
DeleteYou'd think newspapers would check these things before publishing them. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so disturbing. The pride of journalism as we once knew it is essentially dead.
ReplyDeleteThe advent of the Internet is what destroyed everything pertaining to journalism. Suddenly everyone is a writer, everyone is an expert. In my profound naivety, it took me awhile to learn that you can't believe a fraction of what is written on the Internet. And the so-called legitimate news media is either extremely biased or inaccurate (or both).
You're right, it's both funny and disturbing. I mean, someone could send in the name of a strip club and you have to wonder if they'd just publish it without looking into it! And I agree, the Internet caused a lot of this breakdown in integrity. You'd think competition would have made the news media better, not worse.
DeleteI could see if it was a piece on favorite places from the past, but apparently not. That's just weird! It would be like me saying I wanted to go to dinner at the Pyrenees here in Rapid City...a family favorite back in 1985 but long closed now!
ReplyDeleteIt clearly says, "this season" and not "seasons past." Crazy!
DeleteYou got a good laugh out of me when you accused her of being high! LOL! Well, that editor is probably getting lots of e-mails of not fact checking what's printed. I'm surprised that you read the local paper. If we get a "paper" it's 90% advertisements and doesn't even get a quick glance from me. It goes straight to the recycle bin!
ReplyDeleteMy husband subscribes, but half the week, it's only available online, which I never bother with. I do like to read the Sunday paper, but you're right, it doesn't take long!
DeleteOh wow, that's crazy but funny. You would think that the paper would make sure they were real places, still open or not run down roach infested dumps before they print the suggestions. lol
ReplyDeleteIt cracks me up that a person would send in 3 ideas of places that have been gone for decades!! Nuts!
DeleteYou need to call the paper and tell them - would love to know their response! lol
ReplyDeleteI did try to contact them on their website, but I couldn't find an email for the editors and there was no use in emailing the circulation dept. I've dealt with them before and no one there cares.
DeleteWell, that's some shabby editing right there!
ReplyDeleteShabby and downright sad!
DeleteThere are issues with not having editors and most news media (especially print media) have fewer staff these days. Glad your husband had a good laugh!
Deletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
As much as our newspaper charges, I still don't think there's any excuse for not doing a simple Internet search to make sure reader contributions are valid. Call me crazy!
DeleteNewspapers ain't what they used to was. . .
ReplyDeleteI confess I'm one of the guilty parties who reads the on-line newspaper articles rather than subscribe to the print version. But they're slowly catching up to me, and putting their best stuff behind pay-walls. . .
I've noticed that, too. I try to read articles through links and can't get past the first paragraph.
DeleteAs you say, why don't they vet these things before publishing? Presumably because the paper, like many others, has been cutting costs and the editorial staff have been drastically reduced. Anyone following the suggestions would be sorely disappointed!
ReplyDeleteNext week they'll be extolling the new Amstrad computer, the fax machine and the latest 45 singles!
It's crazy that there is no fact checking. I mean, with the Internet, it takes seconds!
Delete" ... was either high when she sent in those ideas or has dementia." Or is a troll with a sense of humor who wanted to expose the paper and maybe particularly the editor as a lazy, incompetent hack.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying I've done something similar myself. But I'm also not saying I haven't ......
Well, that's an interesting take!
DeleteHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Omg. Why haven't you applied for a job at this newspaper yet??? Think of all the fun you could have reporting total bullshit! Or half truth reporting so it might be believable... Omgosh. This made me laugh SO much!!! You say they're high, I tell 'em to put the crack pipe down. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this! I need to add, "Put the crack pipe down!" into my vernacular.
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