DU standards are slipping. [View All]

[paineinthearse]

This morning I sadly observe DU slipping into sensationalism and using false and misleading subject lines.

Take for example "WP: Miers Makes Rounds On Hill (& displays her ignorance)", in LBN and on the home page. This subject line is out of line on two counts. It not only is misleading, giving the impression that the WP called Miers "ignorant", it is in violation of the LBN rules:

1. The placement of the quotation marks changes the meaning. The actual WP headline reads "Miers Makes Rounds On Hill" with a secondary line reading "Some Senators Remain Skeptical". Is this some kind of a cheep attempt to make readers believe that WP said Miers said Miers displayed ignorance?

2. LBN rule 4 states:

When posting articles, always use the published title of the article as the title of the discussion thread. Additional information may be included in a thread title (in parentheses) if it helps to make the title more clear.

The parenthetical expression "(& displays her ignorance)" does NOT make the title more clear and is unnecessary. Beyond that, it is misleading.

In its form with the (intentionally?) misplaced quotation mark, the post does not deserve the endorsement of being on the home page. The LBN mods should have caught the rule 4 faux pas and asked the poster to edit the subject line within the editing window.

Going forward, let's not become tabloid journalists by twisting headlines in order to present false ideas. In doing so we fall to the level of freepers and Rove. Let us be better than the freepers and rethugs, upholding honesty and objectiveness.

:hide: OK, I'll duck for cover now. :hide: