The Hot Blog: Is This Right?

October 29, 2008

Is This Right?

It is certainly anyone's right to take a position on anything in this election.

But if AP is runinng a columnist who is taking a position, shouldn't the piece be labelled as "commentary" and not simply published as though it is the same kind of straight news that AP offers most of the time?

Calvin Woodward runs an anti-Obama take on the Obama infomercial, claiming to be a "fact check,"
when if you read the fact checks, most of the "false" information is based on, admittedly, opinions about the details and not actual false facts.

Anyway... I'm not concerned about this guy going out under the AP header... only that his work is not marked clearly as commentary, which agree with it or not, is exactly what it is.

Posted by dpoland at October 29, 2008 06:52 PM

Comments

Because the article labels some of Obama's positions as "spin", it's "anti-Obama"? Also, you put the word "false" in your piece, inferring that that the journalist said it. He didn't. Putting words in his mouth is cheap and false. The FACT is, some of Obama's assertions don't hold up to independent scrutiny. That puts Obama in the same company as every other politician I've ever seen.

As for the claim that some AP articles take positions under the guise of a 'straight' news story-- I agree. I've noticed it on several occasions.

Posted by: mysteryperfecta at October 29, 2008 08:46 PM

Even if it is 100% right, it seems pretty clearly anti-Obama.

And I don't object at all to AP running opinion... they should just mark it clearly.

Posted by: David Poland at October 29, 2008 10:53 PM

AP's Washington bureau chief was offered a high-level job in the McCain campaign.

Coincidentally the Obama broadcast outdrew Game 5 of the World Series. (For those outside North America, the game that was suspended Monday night by heavy rain.)

Posted by: Chucky in Jersey at October 30, 2008 11:33 AM