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December 31, 2005
Fishy story...
Sometimes the failures of journalism just make we want to scream.
Don't give me the obvious mumbo-jumbo. I want details--specific, step-by-step, document-by-document, details.
I just tried to "buy" a ticket to Baghdad on Expedia and Tavelocity. Guess what? You can't do it. So how did this 16-year-old kid do it? Okay, so he made intermediate steps. How did he know to do that? How did he get proper documents? Who gave them to him? Why? Don't simply tell me he got them. How? Exactly how?
Some stories demand meta-reporting (a practice I'd like to see become routine), i.e. tell me that you're trying to answer the obvious questions; tell me why you don't have answers yet; tell me how you're trying to get the answers.
Man, this story is fishy--waaaaaay fishy.
UPDATE (12:15 p.m.): I'm sitting here daydreaming a bit about this fascinating story. The following is a bit of fancy: I imagine what I would say to Farris Hassan had I been the AP reporter who talked to him in Baghdad. I have no idea what actually happened. I'm not criticizing the AP. And, for all I know, my little flight of fancy is exactly the wrong way to handle it. What it is: A bit about committing journalism.
Me: Hello, Farris. I'd like to ask you a few questions.
Farris: Hello. Yes, sir.
Me: I understand you're interested in journalism.
Farris: Yes, that's right, sir. That's why I came here.
Me: Well, you show spunk, kid. You've obviously got the shoe-leather instincts to be a good reporter. I predict you'll go far in this business.
Farris: Thanks! I appreciate that. And I'm sorry for causing a problem.
Me: No problem, kid. You're going to be good copy.
Farris: Okay...
Me: I want to start by your telling me the entire story. From the moment you decided to come to Iraq until the moment you sat down with me. And I want every detail of every step. I want names, dates, times, documents. I want facts. And I'm going to check out every factual statement you make. Do you mind if I record this?
Farris ...uh, no. But, am I in trouble?
Me: Not with me! Like I said, you're going to be good copy. But journalism is a serious business, and you've come to a serious place. And my readers want to know how you got here and why.
The master narrative of this story has become: "Woooooo...you're in soooo much trouble when you get home!" Let me suggest it might be a bit more important than that.
Posted by acline at December 31, 2005 11:22 AM | | Spotlight