Regret the Error Blog

There is a new Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass in journalism. His name is Paresh Jha and he worked for the New Caanan News, owned by Hearst. 25 of Jha's stories were fabricated, with false quotes created over a year and a half. Glass made up 27 of his 41 total stories at The New Republic and Blair had dozens of plagarized stories himself. This creates the question of why? It seems that these people have no problems with their writing technique, or they wouldn't have jobs at these prestigious papers, so does this mean they are lazy or just trying to lie for their own amusement? Also is the blame all on the reporters who are lying or the entire paper? My own personal belief is that with the 24 hour news format these reporters are always on the hook for a story, and speed pays. Once a reporter realizes how fast and easy it is to fabricate a story they are doomed, so the key is to make sure no reporter does this ever. I believe this must begin at the collegiate level, and every fact should be checked as thoroughly as any newspaper. If the punishments are harsh enough, every reporter out of college will know that fabrication is unnacceptable and perhaps we can salvage, some of the already blemished, the perceptions of the reporter.