Saturday, July 08, 2006

Breaking News

Here's an example of what almost always happens when a news story breaks.

LONDON, July 9 (Reuters) - A plane with 200 people on board crashed in Russia on Sunday, the Interfax news agency reported, but said no one had been killed.
MOSCOW, July 9, 2006 (AFP) - At least two people were killed and 42 injured when a Russian A-310 airliner with 200 people on board crashed early Sunday at Irkutsk airport in Siberia, the Russian emergencies ministry announced quoted by Interfax news agency.
MOSCOW (AP) -- The Russian Emergency Ministry said a plane with about 200 people on board veered off the runway in Siberia and most passengers are feared dead.

What to do? What to do? I can pretty much bet that all these wire services are wrong. The French news agency is never right. And what's with the Russian Emergency Ministry? Are the cleaning ladies answering the phone? I like to be accurate rather than first. I'd prefer to sit here until the numbers get closer together, but the editor says we have to say something. So, here's our first story:

A Russian airliner with 200 people aboard has crashed in Siberia.

Russia's emergencies ministry says 40 people were taken to the hospital, but there is no word on the extent of their injuries. It was not immediately clear if there were any fatalities.

Being factual, fair and balanced isn't easy. Maybe that's why the MSM doesn't bother.

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