Who?

Meet Robin Washington, the Editorial Page Editor of the Duluth News-Tribune, in Minnesota. Yesterday, a reader alerted me that the Duluth newspaper had fallen for a most serious hoax. They printed in their “letters to the editor” section the very same fraud email (scroll down the end) about a mythical impending draft that CBS aired a report about last week.

Before blasting the paper, I picked up the phone and dialed them up. I explained the fraud, presented them with the source of the urban legend email, and urged them to not only make a Memory Hole correction, but explain to their readers about how their letter screening process works.

Last night, I received a call from Robin Washington - the man responsible for that page. While I expected some sneering, or at least a good case of defensiveness - I got neither. He was pleasant, apologetic, and took the time to explain (without making an excuse) how their letters page works. He absolutely got the gravity of falling for this hoax - and even pointed out that his paper should have known better. He aptly drew the parallel to the manufactured “grassroots” opinions in email and on the airwaves he saw last week after the presidential debates.

Not only did Mr. Washington ‘get’ the error - he called to tell me that it would be today’s lead editorial in his newspaper. Kudos to him, and kudos to his newspaper for doing the right thing in the face of a lazy, if honest, mistake.

THIS is responsiveness. THIS is accountability. THIS is responsible journalism, folks. And CBS News could use quite a few Robin Washingtons.

[UPDATE] Ok, I’m even more impressed. The Duluth News-Tribune even got the man who sent the letter to write an apology.