A newsroom can be a noisy, busy place.
Stories race from desk to printers at a breakneck pace.
Yet in our eagerness to disseminate information, we remain always focused to the theme that accuracy must never be sacrificed.
The recent report on a pro-life political action committee endorsing Jim Doherty in the Oregon Senate District 29 race serves as a key reminder of the importance of rigorous fact checking before publication.
The kerfuffle started with a post on a Boardman Facebook group calling out what looked like Doherty receiving an endorsement from a pro-life PAC that was only an organization on paper. We dug into the validity of the PAC and found that, indeed, it was nothing more than a tool to market Doherty’s campaign.
We got that admission straight from the firm that has been handling his campaign marketing.
In an era dominated by the rapid dissemination of information via social media and the insatiable appetite for instant gratification, the risk of spreading information that has not been verified is real. A single piece of wrong information can create a bubble of misinformation that neither helps us as reporters nor you, the reader.
Confusion from just plain wrong information erodes trust. Sure, we’re human. We are going to make mistakes. But if those mistakes can be attributed to human nature, then we can make adjustments, create policy and safeguards. Yet if the information is wrong because it wasn’t checked, if the information wasn’t vetted and still goes to print, the blame is squarely on our shoulders.
A rigorous fact-checking process is crucial to our success. Fact-checking enhances our integrity and credibility.
That’s a reason why are looking into some more endorsements to other SD 29 candidates that seem to be paper thin.
While the temptation to be the first to break the news is palpable, we understood that accuracy takes precedence over speed. This approach ensures that our readers receive information that is authenticated.
Looking forward, we reaffirm our commitment to maintaining these rigorous standards. Every story that graces our pages will continue to undergo meticulous scrutiny and verification, ensuring our readers receive nothing but the most accurate and reliable reporting.
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If you haven’t already, take a moment to register your subscription for digital access of the East Oregonian. Call 800-781-3214 to talk to one of our customer service staff who will be happy to walk you through the process. It’s easy, takes just a few moments to get set up and allows you to take advantage of our e-edition, app and website delivery along with your print subscription.
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As always, if you have comments or questions about the East Oregonian, or want to pass along a story idea, send me an email at this address: acutler@eastoregonian.com.
Finally, let me take this opportunity to once again thank the East Oregonian’s subscribers: We simply would be unable to do this vital work without your support.
Andrew Cutler is the publisher and editor of the East Oregonian.
