Sound Off for Feb. 15, 2009
| Saturday, Feb 14 2009 10:12 PM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:26 PM
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Reader: I'm calling to complain about the crossword puzzle missing from the Classified section. I keep opening the paper every day thinking maybe today the crossword puzzle will be in there, but alas, no puzzle.
When I see the big ads in there for the car companies I think well, if they can make room for all those cars they surely have room for the crossword puzzle. I looked forward to that every morning when I got my paper. Now I don't even look forward to the paper any more.
Thank you for your time. I hope some day we can see the crossword puzzle in your paper again.
— Lois McAdoo
•••
Jenner: I have good news for you and other readers disappointed by the recent loss of the Classified crossword puzzle: It's coming back.
Several months ago, in an effort to reduce newsprint costs, we eliminated the half page of puzzles called "Classified Corner."
Even though all along we've published another crossword on our advice page each day (along with Sudoku and Jumble), many readers were very vocal about the value of the second puzzle in Classified.
We tried to sell a sponsorship, but found no takers. We've made a home for the Cryptoquip and the Hocus Focus game on the advice page, so we'll be restoring only the crossword puzzle.
Look for it to reappear in Friday's paper in the Classified section.
Reader: We were excited and encouraged to read a bit of good news in these gloomy times in last Sunday's Californian.
Under the headline, "56-year-old becomes 1st Woman to Swim Atlantic," we learned of Jennifer Figge's epic 25-day crossing of 2,100 miles of ocean.
I am reminded of the character in Steve Martin's film, "L.A. Story," who observes that "A kiss may not be the truth, but it is what we wish were true." Alas, Sunday's story would be all the more wonderful if only it were true.
As it turns out, Associated Press reporter Danica Coto was perhaps a bit too enthralled by the magical qualities of the story and let her imagination — and journalistic integrity — get ahead of fact-checking, common sense and elementary physics.
The Californian,relying on the story supplied by the AP, is hardly to blame, depending on the reputation of the regarded news service to supply much of its international content. You were quick to print the corrected story in which it was revealed by her own crew that Figge swam perhaps only 250 miles.
This is not the first — remember Oprah's delight in the supposedly non-fiction book, "A Million Little Pieces," that turned out to be a fabricated story — and will certainly not be the last time reporters and the media are duped.
It should, however, be a reminder that a story too good to be true generally deserves closer inspection.
— Peter Wonderly
Jenner: The AP wasn't the only news organization to pass along the story about Figge's "accomplishment" based on information provided by one of her crew members. It's a classic example of the need for verification.
We rely on several trusted news organizations to provide news we can't cover. And although no news organization is immune to being tricked, considering the volume and scope of the AP's coverage, its track record is impressive.
We go to great lengths to avoid being hoaxed or duped. Readers would be surprised to know how many story ideas submitted to us contain inaccuracies or stretch the truth.
We're committed to being the most trusted and reliable source of local news and information.
There's a lot of legwork that goes into verifying facts before the paper hits the press.
