Not that anyone on this site would run with a story that might not be vetted or accurate, but........
Some of you may have seen this story. I believe several national news agencies picked it up. This story is very representative, albeit in a very minor way, with the trouble with so-called journalism today.
The Charleston Post & Courier couldn't wait to post this story, as reported by the Physician that was involved, about a "coyote" that unbeknownst to him, followed him into his office building in the morning. The "coyote" growled at him inside and he turned and ran outside with the "coyote" closely following him. The "coyote" then, according to the Dr., saw a squirrel and was distracted from further pursuit of the Dr. There was even video of the "coyote" following him into the building and then running out.
Now I've been a hunter for over 50 years. I've hunted out west in Colorado and Wyoming many times and I've had many encounters with real coyotes, some that ended badly for the coyote. I took one look at that video and said "No way, that's a coyote", skinny mongrel dog maybe, no coyote.
Well today's paper reports that very fact. In fact, a local woman reports it was her dog that got loose earlier that morning and not a coyote.
Today's so called journalist, whether the story is big or small, local or national or international, liberal or conservative, all too quickly run with it, accept it as fact on someone's say-so and go to print with it. And this is just a clear example of what happens when stories are not fact checked, not vetted and just go to press.
Even if the reporters had said "possibly" a coyote, maybe a wild dog or something of that nature to suggest doubt as to the actual species, but instead they ran with the "coyote" and they were wrong and they got a lot of local residents concerned unnecessarily that they better look over their shoulders before entering their homes because a wild coyote might be tracking them down.
Okay, back to our soon to be MNC Lions football team, soon to be Final Four BB team, soon to be Frozen Four Ice Hockey team and soon to be Nat. Wrestling Champs.
Some of you may have seen this story. I believe several national news agencies picked it up. This story is very representative, albeit in a very minor way, with the trouble with so-called journalism today.
The Charleston Post & Courier couldn't wait to post this story, as reported by the Physician that was involved, about a "coyote" that unbeknownst to him, followed him into his office building in the morning. The "coyote" growled at him inside and he turned and ran outside with the "coyote" closely following him. The "coyote" then, according to the Dr., saw a squirrel and was distracted from further pursuit of the Dr. There was even video of the "coyote" following him into the building and then running out.
Now I've been a hunter for over 50 years. I've hunted out west in Colorado and Wyoming many times and I've had many encounters with real coyotes, some that ended badly for the coyote. I took one look at that video and said "No way, that's a coyote", skinny mongrel dog maybe, no coyote.
Well today's paper reports that very fact. In fact, a local woman reports it was her dog that got loose earlier that morning and not a coyote.
Today's so called journalist, whether the story is big or small, local or national or international, liberal or conservative, all too quickly run with it, accept it as fact on someone's say-so and go to print with it. And this is just a clear example of what happens when stories are not fact checked, not vetted and just go to press.
Even if the reporters had said "possibly" a coyote, maybe a wild dog or something of that nature to suggest doubt as to the actual species, but instead they ran with the "coyote" and they were wrong and they got a lot of local residents concerned unnecessarily that they better look over their shoulders before entering their homes because a wild coyote might be tracking them down.
Okay, back to our soon to be MNC Lions football team, soon to be Final Four BB team, soon to be Frozen Four Ice Hockey team and soon to be Nat. Wrestling Champs.
