Rescue: Take Time To Check Facts

We need to make sure that we're taking time BEFORE we start writing to make sure we understand all the facts correctly.

In one case, we wrote that the boy died when a pond collapsed. In fact, it was a tunnel in a hill near a pond that collapsed. That misinterpretation of facts is a fatal.

We also need to make sure that we're taking time AFTER we finish writing to make sure all the facts are correct as given.

In the same story, we named the city East Lansing and East Lasing, the latter with the "n" missing. One had to be wrong, as a city can't have two different names.

Also, in another well-written story, we wrote that the child who died was 6 years old. In fact, he was 11.

Please, let's make sure we're spending as much time studying the material BEFORE we start writing and reviewing our facts for accuracy AFTER we finish writing, as we are actually writing.

I've said it a bunch of times before, but I need to say it again: journalism isn't about writing; it's about getting it right.