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  Storm of Stories on Investigation of LA Archdiocese Shows Mainstream Media File Copy-pasted Reports

By Kay Ebeling
Examiner
January 30, 2009

http://www.examiner.com/x-1960-LA-City-Buzz-Examiner

There was a storm of stories, but look closer. Almost every one of the articles run in media about the investigation of Cardinal Roger Mahony and the LA Archdiocese are just copy and pasted from the original LA Times story, and the Associated press story about it. Wall Street Journal, CNN, copy and pasted from the LA Times story. For example, notice how many of them mention that US Attorney Tom O'Brien is "personally involved" in the investigation. One reporter after another quotes Cardinal Roger Mahony as being "mystified" and "puzzled" each one writing what the other writer wrote.

What started it all: On its Web site Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times quoted two anonymous law enforcement sources as saying Mahony is among those being investigated by the grand jury to determine if he failed to keep children safe from predatory priests.

Several reporters in the storm of stories did a little bit research on the -- law that was part of the leaked story . They then phoned an unrelated pundit such as a law professor somewhere to comment on the law. Then other reporters copy and pasted the quotes from law professors and called that a story.

The real story is how much the public and crime victims are thirsting for an investigation, want these crimes prosecuted.

Here is a documentation of the storm with all these media outlets telling pretty much the exact same story, phrases changed - except for me, LA CIty Buzz Examiner.

At The University of Texas where I studied journalism, they said, always have something new to say. Never repeat what other writers have already said, or it is not new, hence news. Of course I graduated in 1978, before the dumbing down of America began

 
 

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