We Regret The Error, K. Elliott

People make mistakes. This statement is nothing new, compelling or shocking to human beings because we grow up in a world of imperfection and utopian ideals, which are known as just that. Sighting imperfection and error in certain sectors of our lives is much more condemnable than others. A mailperson mistakably delivering a letter to a neighbours address instead of the one intended by the sender: forgivable. A doctor announcing one is soon to be deceased due to a cancer affliction, only to fess up to human err a month later (or vice versa): lawsuit.

This pressure for perfection is also placed on journalist and media types. The misspelling of a word such, as "benefeit" instead of benefit in the closing remark of the NxEW bio definitely makes the paper look unprofessional and unreliable. Even if a newspaper runs notice of correction to fix an error, such as they did recently in the St. Albert Gazette about misreporting on a survey, the initial damage may be done. The importance of our news and information to be current, understandable and correct is integral for media companies and the public, in order to maintain the current system that operates on a basis of reliability and integrity.

Yet, it should be understood that not everything you read in a paper or see on television is completely true. More and more media awareness is being urged and taught to younger people because of the impact and prevalence our media saturated world has on shaping youth and affecting peoples day to day lives. PBS has launched the “Don’t Buy It! Get Media Smart” campaign towards youth and many campaign programs are being created and centered on focusing minds on critical thinking skills and analytical processing as not to simply ingesting everything they take in as whole truths. This is very important.

Even if we pride ourselves on living in a world with a free press system in place which allows individuals the right to information sharing with minimal regulatory interference, it is important to note the basic regulations and stipulations which these information sharers must adhere to in order to keep the presses free. This includes being error free. There is no room for mistakes when the reputations of the persons in the story, the writer, and the media news producer are on the line and the shared knowledge of the public is at risk of being tainted with mistakes.

With this kind of pressure, it is no wonder journalists have fears of making mistakes. Not only could it cause an upset, but also legal troubles. This is why we go to school. Practice is the only way to attempt at perfection and though perfection may be too much of a utopian ideal, it is necessary to strive for. Craig Silverman, writer of Regret the Error: How Media Mistakes Pollute the Press and Imperil Free Speech, wrote his book and uses his website to report on “media corrections, retractions, apologies, clarifications and trends regarding accuracy and honesty in the press.” Silverman states his goal as being “aim[ed] to provide a non-partisan resource to serve both the press and the public; my overall goal is to help make news reporting more accurate and transparent.” But even Silverman is aware that human mistakes are almost completely unavoidable. “Perhaps this sounds a bit confusing: fear is good, but also bad; mistakes are bad, but also instructive. That's exactly the point. Teaching accuracy is a multi-faceted process.”

In order for most to learn, it takes making mistakes to truely understand how to do something correctly. School gives people a forum from which to practice and receive instruction with hopes that after their classes of practice sessions are over, they will successfully be capable of mastering the tasks in the work force. Correctly. Because journalists have a critical job to do, which have many people’s attention and room for error, no doubt, is minimal.



Image Sources: Emory University, clevland.com, Mooladays.com