Chris Rickert At Wisconsin State Journal Needs To Get Facts Lined Up Before Writing

The role of journalists and columnists in newspapers is something that often gets attention on Caffeinated Politics.   There is often plenty of reason to applaud their work.  At times however, there is also reason to call attention to lapses in judgment, or just plain errors in reporting.

Such is the case with Chris Rickert who writes a column for the Wisconsin State Journal.  One of my readers to this blog was irritated enough with the inaccurate writing to send a letter to Franklin, the managing editor of the paper, and Johnston, the publisher.

Dear Mr. Franklin and Mr. Johnston,

 

Your paper, with outstanding investigative journalists, has its credibility harmed when you have lazy writers.

 

Not long ago, Chris Rickert was writing inaccurately that President Obama said every young person needs to go to college – quoting a mis-truth by Rick Santorum.

 

Now Rickert writes:

“Falk was the first Democrat to enter the race, on Jan. 18, and is the choice of those who launched the recall, public sector unions.”Yes, the public sector unions were involved, but the public sector unions are not the group who launched the recall. The organization that launched the recall and gathered the signatures did not endorse in the primary and its founder endorsed Barrett.

 

For a subscriber that appreciates your paper’s good investigative journalism, such as the article yesterday about the DNR or your reporting the caucus scandal, this inaccurate journalism is disappointing. And, it hurts your reputation and credibility.

 

Sincerely,