[WikiEN-l] About our disclaimer and what I wish...

Wed Dec 7 04:10:29 UTC 2005

Actually it is worse that they are no more accurate than we are.

Our errors can be fixed in moments. Theirs exist in perpetuity. If
someone had written this information about Seigenthaler on a geocities
page it would have taken him a week to get removed and he'd still have
no real idea who wrote it. They wouldn't even give up the IP address
without a court order (as they shouldn't).

(And while we are on the topic of mainstream media errors, in an
article from last Thursday, December 1, in the feature article on the
front page of the New York Times Business section, it said, and I
quote, "The Samotlor oil field in Russia has a distinct shape and is
easily discernable on a satellite image. It can be located quickly by
searching the web or using a mapping program. Regardless, the *Soviet
Union* continues to produce and distribute maps that obscure the
locaitons of landmarks." My emphasis added. Just in case you get
interviewed by the NYT, Jimbo.)

FF

On 12/6/05, Kelly Martin <kelly.lynn.martin at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 12/6/05, Jimmy Wales <jwales at wikia.com> wrote:
> > "Now, you do have a general disclaimer on the site, it says that
> > Wikipedia cannot guarantee the validity of the information found here,
> > none of the authors, contributors, or anyone else connected with
> > Wikipedia in any way whatsoever can be responsible for the appearance of
> > any inaccurate or libellous information." - Kyra Phillips, talking to me
> > on CNN
> >
> > I wish my response could have been:
> >
> > "Yes, Kyra, and let me read you the disclaimer from _your_ website:
> > NEITHER CNN, ITS AFFILIATES NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES,
> > AGENTS, THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS OR LICENSORS WARRANT THAT CNN
> > INTERACTIVE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE; NOR DO THEY MAKE ANY
> > WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF CNN
> > INTERACTIVE, OR AS TO THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY OR CONTENT OF ANY
> > INFORMATION, SERVICE, OR MERCHANDISE PROVIDED THROUGH CNN INTERACTIVE."
> >
> > But I didn't have that handy.
>
> Well, it's pretty obvious from the interview that she was out to get
> you.  CNN's coverage evinces clear bias.  We do need to work on your
> preinterview briefings, though....
>
> It's been interesting to note the errors, minor and major, in the news
> coverage of this incident.  One radio report in Chicagoland reported
> that Seigenthaler was a former Senator.  At least one blog report
> demanded absolute accuracy -- while misspelling Seigenthaler's name
> consistently throughout.  Almost all the print and electronic media
> articles I've seen misreport Wikipedia's URL as www.wikipedia.com
> (instead of .org).  The conclusion I've reached is that the media is
> no more accurate than we are.  I think it would be a really good idea
> to take the media coverage of this incident and identify all the
> errors in their coverage -- some of which reaches the level of libel
> itself (such as the one that says that Jimbo ignored Seigenthaler's
> entreaties for four months before bothering to act).  Their house is
> no cleaner than ours.
>
> Kelly
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