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The New York Times‘ Public Editor, Arthur Brisbane, wants you to tell them whether they should disclose in stories when subjects are clearly lying about something. The New York Times is unsure at present whether it should do this. (This was an unfair knee to the balls: see update below)
I’m looking for reader input on whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge “facts” that are asserted by newsmakers they write about. …
Is that the prevailing view? And if so, how can The Times do this in a way that is objective and fair? Is it possible to be objective and fair when the reporter is choosing to correct one fact over another?
Dear New York Times. You may tell the truth about it when people lie. You may even be a “truth vigilante,” as you Brisbane rather strangely put it. You will be rewarded with subjects that hate you, and readers that love you. Pick a side!
UDPATE: New York Times’ National Legal Correspondent John Schwartz tweets: “Nota Bene: Public Editor doesn’t speak for NYT, works “outside of the reporting and editing structure”