Josh Marshall begins a rundown of how an inaccurate “story” about a $150 haircut becomes political news (see my item). This should be an axiom of journalism: Don’t report what other news organizations report without first verifying the information (in other words: do your own reporting). Notice I used the term “news organization,” which implies some kind of (legitimate) institutional structure. The Drudge Report does not qualify. I remain thoroughly amazed that anyone who would aspire to the title of “journalist”–including TV people–would pay any attention to Matt Drudge. His initial report, based on unnamed sources, was simply wrong. (Note: Drudge updates his site by writing over previous material. The link above reflects his subsequent “reporting.”) Yet he felt compelled to spout off about the social meaning of his inaccurate “reporting.” This is blogging, not journalism. It’s not even good blogging.
