How often are stories wrong? Scott Maier is a professor at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communications. He has researched errors and corrections in the news media. His study looked at 4,800 news stories. It found errors in around 60 percent. “Errors are more common than journalists believe,” he says.
Most mistakes in the news are quite small. Think a misspelled name. Why print corrections? Maier says it’s to convey the idea that “we may not always get it right, but when we do make an error, we correct it prominently, and we correct it quickly.”
A) Errors in news stories are not frequently acknowledged.
B) Journalists often overlook their mistakes in articles.
C) Small mistakes can have a significant effect on readers.
D) Corrections are essential for maintaining trust in media.
E) Readers may not notice most errors in news articles.
The correct answer is D) Corrections are essential for maintaining trust in media.
Explanation: Scott Maier emphasizes the importance of making corrections to convey accountability and transparency in journalism. By correcting errors prominently and quickly, journalists demonstrate to readers that they value accuracy and strive to maintain their trust, even when mistakes occur. This reinforces the relationship between the media and the audience, underscoring why corrections are vital.