Norman Oder did not suggest NEVER SUGGESTED that the Blogs Aloud excerpts—and the panelists—were chosen by Absolut. I’ll let Norman Oder speak for himself. I know that Oder is dedicated to accuracy and I fully respect that. I am sincerely sorry that I did not issue this full correction earlier.
This is the fifth time in two days–two emails, three comments–I’ve had to point out that you *invented* this sentence: “Norman Oder’s accusation that the bloggers on the panel and those included in the Blogs Aloud section were chosen by Absolut is patently ridiculous.”
I never made that accusation.
In the Times’s CityRoom blog, you said “I make every effort to attribute quotes accurately and not misrepresent people’s point of view” and “I love it when people fact-check me or send me typos. That’s a big help because I’m working very fast and mistakes do get made.”
Making such corrections–especially when the underlying error has no basis in fact–is not just a professional obligation. It’s a legal one.
Ed, sure, I’ve made mistakes, but I don’t think I’ve ever made anything up the way Louise did, with the coverage obviously checkable.
I made a mistake–albeit based on a reasonable assumption–in my coverage of the Blogfest this week. When I learned of it, I corrected it promptly.
I agree Louise earned a break. That’s why I wrote her cordial private emails on the night of June 9 and the morning of June 10 requesting a correction. Had she corrected the original post, this post and the ensuing discussion would’ve been avoided.
Sigh. Norman’s NEVER misquoted or misrepresented ANYONE. Ever.
Norman, mistakes happen. Sometimes corrections aren’t done as neatly as they might be. Sometimes it really makes a difference, and sometimes it does not.
In this case, a sense of proportion would be appropriate.
Louise has earned a break.
Sure, Louise meant well with the Blogfest, and worked hard.
However, making stuff up about me, failing to correct it, then correcting it incompletely–and failing to correct the original post–isn’t “doing her best.”
Nor is allowing personal attacks, especially from anonymous cowards. (You’re attacking me for having to go through hoops to get Louise to rescind a lie?)
In fact, this mini-episode exemplifies some of the concerns raised after previous Blogfests: would participants grapple with issues like fact-gathering, corrections, commenting standards, and conflict-of-interest?
(See Benjamin Kabak’s post from May 2008: http://bit.ly/ajExsR)
Looks like lessons not learned.
exactly. Go back to Yale or wherever you come from, and stop giving my sister a hard time. Yes, you have done a fantastic service to our community regarding your work opposing the Atlantic Yards Project. But please, give my sister a break. She has been an advocate of your cause and a consistently well meaning blogger. I know. She has a heart of gold and her intentions are always good – How few people can say that. So BACK OFF.
Jesus, Norman, give it a rest.
Go back to editing dating site personal ads.
Or better yet, go back to Yale and finish law school.
Louise is doing her best and has owned up to her flaws.
Nor did I suggest that the bloggers on the panel were chosen by Absolut.