• Animortis@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Nope. You call them up and go, “This is happening and we’re running a story. Care to comment?” You should even have a list of questions to ask if they agree. They can give you bullshit answers if they want, then you point those out and add that to the story. It doesn’t have to affect the story. Facts are facts, and they can try to explain it away, but can’t. You’re still holding them accountable. You’re just also giving them a chance to apologize or own up to it. And if they dont’ comment, you include that.

    Steve and crew are amazing tech journalists. They’re doing great work. But that’s a miss in this whole thing.

    • S3verin@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Thats how I am used to it as well. There is always more than pure facts. And giving the other side a change explain themselves is a part of it.

    • SterlingVapor@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      That’s a courtesy you can extend, but mostly it’s a protection against libel - if they take you to court about a claim they dispute, being able to say “your honor, we gave them a chance to respond before going public”

      In this case, there’s no dispute over facts - they didn’t bring up any accusations, they just took what LTT posted publicly and presented criticisms of it

      For example, if you report on the president being accused of misconduct you might ask the white house for comment, but if you are criticizing a speech they made or their public actions you probably wouldn’t (unless you think they’ll give you something that improves the story)