Though we try to avoid them, errors are part of the reality of volunteer/citizen media like TMV and other blogs. Even at traditional, commercial media, mistakes happen because … well, you know, “to err is human.” That said, it’s reasonable to hope that mistakes are less common among the professional class than the volunteer class — and that “doh!” moments are virtually non-existent in the former.
Or maybe not.
Consider this report filed this morning at Telephony Online. From the last paragraph of the story’s orignal version (emphasis added):
… the Rural Utilities Service, the other government agency charged with awarding broadband stimulus funds, has provided even fewer details about its timeline. At the time of this story’s filing, the recovery.gov web site shows two different dates for when the RUS will make decisions about the first round of funding. One section of the pertinent page shows a December 2009 date, while another entry on the same page indicates “end of first quarter of fiscal year 2010.” The RUS did not respond to an email requesting clarification.
Um … last I checked, the fiscal year for the federal government (ref. Source 1, Source 2) starts October 1, which means the “end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2010” would be December 2009 — which means the recovery.org site is not showing “two different dates,” but the same date.
Your call, but I’d consider that a “doh!” moment. And no, glass-house-dwellers shouldn’t be throwing stones; although, once again, most of us lowly bloggers aren’t paid for what we do. Then again, the “I’m doing this for free” defense may not be as solid as my rationalizing mind suggests it is.
Hell, for all I know, my counterparts among the professional media are already sharpening their attack knives. If only I could afford a bodyguard. Perhaps I should have considered that before I wrote this post.