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BigBen · 01-24-2006, 06:49 AM

I will never forget the first time I was is-quoted by the media. I thought the interview went really well, and when I read my words in print, they were twisted to look like I was some power-hungry lunatic. (I had no power, nor did I want any in that certain situation). I phoned the reporter, as he had given me his business card, and asked what happened.

He said that it 'popped' that way, and that he had not misquoted me. He had the tapes to prove it, after all. I told him that when he cuts and pastes phrases that I say together, he is certainly misquoting me. He politely disagreed.

Since then, I have given 'bad guys' in the news all sorts of slack. And I have learned two things:

1. "No comment" works wonders, especially when the reporter is on a deadline.
2. "Off-the-record" does not exist. Ever.

Shoddy reporting deserves a fraud sentence, for violating the public trust. Say, about.... 9 years?

01-24-2006, 06:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
BigBen Comedian Location: Use the search button	I will never forget the first time I was is-quoted by the media. I thought the interview went really well, and when I read my words in print, they were twisted to look like I was some power-hungry lunatic. (I had no power, nor did I want any in that certain situation). I phoned the reporter, as he had given me his business card, and asked what happened. He said that it 'popped' that way, and that he had not misquoted me. He had the tapes to prove it, after all. I told him that when he cuts and pastes phrases that I say together, he is certainly misquoting me. He politely disagreed. Since then, I have given 'bad guys' in the news all sorts of slack. And I have learned two things: 1. "No comment" works wonders, especially when the reporter is on a deadline. 2. "Off-the-record" does not exist. Ever. Shoddy reporting deserves a fraud sentence, for violating the public trust. Say, about.... 9 years? __________________ 3.141592654 Hey, if you are impressed with my memorizing pi to 10 digits, you should see the size of my penis.