Tip to the Times: Fact-Check Your Messages
Another Embarrassing Mistake at the Nation’s Paper of Record

While it bad things happen on the best of days, it can be disastrous when sound news judgment and senior editors BOTH take a holiday at a leading news organization.

Check out what appeared in the Monday, Dec. 22 (Christmas/Hanukkah week) edition of The New York Times. Today’s knowledge workers must come to grips with the need for fact checking and approvals. The public wants to know … fast … but they want facts, not fiction. This means if you’re an intern on your first day on the job or a senior manager with decades of decision-making under your belt

The New York Times got caught (again) abandoning this key tenet of journalism (fact-checking), when they printed an op-ed piece from Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe berating Caroline Kennedy’s quest for a US senate seat.

Problem was, the mayor didn’t write it the letter. Reporters and editors took the fake bait because they were hooked on being “first” rather than “factual.” Ouch!

There was a time when the Times was proudly known as the nation’s paper of record. They’re slipping. As an “edujournalist,” it’s sad when a news organization’s reputation starts rolling down a hill of half-baked facts. It quickly takes on a snowball effect.

That’s why I take my job as a college professor very seriously. It’s imperative educators, journalists, content developers and marketing communications professionals – and students learning the craft – take time to tackle the facts and carefully check sources.

Here’s a summary of what went down:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081222224807.gqu43le9&show_article=1

The New York Times admitted last week it was duped into publishing a fake letter claiming to come from Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe that criticized Caroline Kennedy's senate bid as "appalling" and "not very democratic."

"What title has Ms. Kennedy to pretend to Hillary Clinton's seat?" read the letter, printed in Monday's editions of the leading US metropolitan daily.

"We French can only see a dynastic move of the vanishing Kennedy clan in the very country of the Bill of Rights. It is both surprising and appalling ... Can we speak of American decline?" read the letter.

Later Monday, the newspaper published an editor's note on its website stating "this letter was a fake. It should not have been published."

Delanoe's press office in Paris confirmed that the text was a hoax.

The letter was received via email, and the Times said it had "violated both our standards and our procedures in publishing signed letters from our readers" because it had not verified its authenticity. The paper said it had already sent an apology to Delanoe's office.

Command Attention with Outstanding Performance

Overall, all of my CCNY students did well this semester. A few weeks back all received outstanding marks during group project presentations, which showcased what students learned throughout the semester. Suitable for viewing on YouTube, students were polished and on point. But of course we wouldn’t show mock presentations online because we didn’t have legal approval from our clients or featured advocacy groups. It’s always important to respect intellectual property and communications law at each phase of the marketing process.

That takes on the job training. Along with my colleagues at CCNY, we try to fast-forward the process as students prepare to enter the world of work.

Organizational Tip of the Day

Use Microsoft Office Notes to organize your desktop. Like First Lady Michelle Obama says, “I like order.”

E-Tip

When you have a one or two word response or approval sent via e-mail or BlackBerry, end with < EOM > -- end of message. That way, the recipient doesn’t have to open or read a full message, saving time.

Example: C U@ 8 < EOM >

[ Translation for mature readers: See you at 8 PM. ]

It's 8 PM; time to sign off and watch “The Obamas,” Suzanne Malveaux’s CNN special celebrating America's new "first family". Later!