Feb 10 2007
More on William Arkin: The WaPo applies some damage control
The discussion about William Arkin’s offensive blog/columns continues, with the WaPo ombudsman now applying a little last minute (too late?) damage control.
Hat tip to Hot Air.
The fact that The Post and washingtonpost.com are interlocking yet separate is lost on most readers, who do not care that the two are miles apart physically and under different management.
Sounds like an initial move to minimize the relationship. While she is technically correct, the name recognition and association is certainly a factor. The Washington Post is a trademark, so there cannot be that much seperation.
A great example is the recent firestorm over a column that never appeared in The Post — but for which The Post was blamed. William M. Arkin, who writes an online national security column and blog called "Early Warning," was critical of soldiers who, in an NBC-TV report, voiced their frustration with opposition to the war. The report, he wrote, "is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary — oops sorry, volunteer — force."
Complaints were swift and angry and came by the thousands. D.J. Aland of Springfield wrote: "Mr. Arkin’s hateful and hate-filled tantrum on the Washington Post Web site, in which he calls American soldiers ‘mercenary’ and ridicules their opinions, is beyond definition. His column stains your publication — not as much for his opinion as for the vile way he has expressed it. The credibility of the Washington Post national security reporting is irreparably damaged by his ranting."
Indeed.
Did one online column irreparably damage Post national security journalism?
Yes.
No. But it does show that an online column rubs off on the newspaper. Opinions on Arkin vary among Post reporters who write about the military and national security. Some respect him; others think he harms The Post’s reputation.
And they are right. As I said the issue is that they share the common name, and that name is so heaviliy invested in a joint reputation that attempts to say "it was them not us" are really futile.
Arkin apologized. He said he was "dead wrong" to use the word "mercenary," that it "is an insult and pejorative, and it does not accurately describe the condition of the American soldier today. I sincerely apologize to anyone in the military who took my words literally."
She, however, fails to note that his apology was followed up with worse insults and some of the most disadainful attitudes about the military.
What’s the difference between opinion writing for the newspaper and for washingtonpost.com? The writing can be similar, but the editing is more intense at the newspaper. More experienced eyes see a story or a column before it goes into the paper; The Post has several levels of rigorous editing. There is "less of an editing process" for blogs at the more immediacy-oriented Web site, Brady said.
And frankly, in a blog there is a case to made that less is more. But at the same time, when said blog is under the Washingtonpost.com banner and domain, it does have a direct implication to that organization.
Most bloggers I know are opinionated indeed, but they also recognize that with he power of freedom of speech that we bloggers enjoy, there is consequence and responsbility. If you alienate your readers you will lose them.
Bloggers that post to blogs under news organizations like the Seattle Times or the Washington Post, or even ABC news must in turn understand that the responsiblity carries an extra burden, and that is the recognition and reputation of the organization they post under.
Arkin’s column did not meet Post standards, but then, newspaper editing isn’t perfect, either. But "mercenary" surely is live ammo; such an incendiary word should have popped out in flames to Post editors.
And it is good editing that should prevail when a report carries The Post’s banner.
While I appreciate her words, it saddens me that she focuses all her attention on the use of a single word and ignores the attitude he carried through all 3 blogs, and the disdain and disrespect to the military overall.
The military at large still stand demeaned. And the WaPo with their CYA has not done enough to address that yet.
My previous blogs on Arkin:
More at:
