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Scott Maier University of Oregon

Scott Maier University of Oregon. News Accuracy: Trans-Atlantic Perspectives. Accuracy: Foundation of media credibility. "Accuracy is our prime directive, with everything else flowing from it." Michael Fancher The Seattle Times

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Scott Maier University of Oregon

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  1. Scott MaierUniversity of Oregon News Accuracy: Trans-Atlantic Perspectives

  2. Accuracy: Foundation of media credibility • "Accuracy is our prime directive, with everything else flowing from it." • Michael Fancher • The Seattle Times • “Respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth is the first duty of the journalist.” International Federation of Journalists

  3. News Accuracy • Public view hits two decade low • How often errors really occur? • Does accuracy really matter? Pew Research Center 2010

  4. News Accuracy Study • Investigators: • Philip Meyer,University of North Carolina • Scott Maier, University of Oregon • Instrument: 4-page questionnaire • Sample: 7,600 news stories in 22 newspapers • Response Rate:68 percent

  5. U.S. News Accuracy • Factual errors found in nearly half of news stories • Three errors per story • Highest error rate in 70 years of research

  6. Factual errors

  7. Subjective Errors

  8. Causes of error

  9. Accuracy Matters • Credibility drops measurably with each error. • Error explains one third of perceived story credibility. • Errors impair relationship with sources: • Willingness to serve as source drops with error

  10. European Journalism Observatory • Director: Prof. Dr. Stephan Russ-Mohl • Principle investigators: • Colin Porlezza • Marta Zanichelli • Consultant: Scott Maier

  11. European Journalism Observatory • 1000 news stories in 5 Swiss newspapers • 1000 news stories in 5 Italian newspapers

  12. European Journalism Observatory • Replicated U.S. study • Surveyed quoted information sources • Local byline articles from front page, local, business and lifestyle sections • Response rates: • 50% Swiss sample • 15% Italian sample

  13. Stories with factual error(s)

  14. Error types

  15. Stories with subjective error(s)  Quotes distorted  Essential information missing  Story sensationalized  Numbers misleading

  16. Causes of error

  17. Sources remain “eager” to serve Swiss sources especially willing to forgive errors Trust in newspapers (from 1=little trust to 7=much trust

  18. Accuracy Matters • News accuracy a global challenge. • Across nations, errors found in at least every other news article. • Credibility and trust depend on accuracy. • Across nations, errors diminish respect of and confidence in newspaper.

  19. Further study needed • Sample: Collect200 to 400 news stories. • Sources: Identify and locate at least one primary news source for each article. • Consider partnerships: Larger and more honest response when survey independently conducted.

  20. Further study needed •  Survey: Personally addressed letter andnews article with each questionnaire. •  Promise confidentiality. Sources fear their complaints will be used against them. •  Consider rewards: Small gift or promised donation to charity increases participation. •  Delivery: Use postal mail and email for maximum response. •  Follow-up: Repeat two to three times.

  21. Further study needed • Questionnaire: Available in English, German and Italian from Scott Maier, smaier@uoregon.edu

  22. Corrections • Only one in 10 errors reported to the newspaper.

  23. Corrections requests Depends on: Number and severity of errors Newspaper credibility Perceived cause of error

  24. Why errors ignored Errors considered minor Perfection not expected

  25. Why errors ignored Sense of futility “Happens all the time” Corrections corner “useless” Make matters worse Corrections draw attention to error Fear newspaper wrath “Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel.”

  26. Conclusions • Emotional threshold: • Public tolerates some error • Tipping point:Demand correction • Unforgiving of lazy, incomplete reporting • Unforgiving of unfair reporting

  27. Errors in a digital age The Theory: • News errors online quickly identified and corrected. The Reality: • Smaller staffs expected to do more. • Errors frequently made in haste to post news. • Online stories get little or no review by editors. • Corrections never catch up with the viral spread of online news.

  28. Errors in a digital age • Mistakes easier to report Correction Buttons M E D I A B U G S

  29. Digital Accuracy • Accuracy is the prime directive in a digital age. • Across nations,errors multiple on the Internet. • Across nations, avoiding errors the best corrective!

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