ABC has rightfully been receiving rebukes for an inflammatory headline for its 21 April “Clean Coal?” story. In short, Brian Ross’ “Blotter” posting (with the embedded video) is entitled RFK Jr. Blasts Obama as ‘Indentured Servant’ to Coal Industry. In fact, Robert F Kennedy, Jr, did not say this in RFK JR’s interview with Brian Ross. While RFK JR did heavily criticize the coal industry (not surprisingly) and does talk about politicians as “indentured servants”, he never directly states the inflammatory “indentured servants” (which is one step short, one would guess, of calling the first African American President a “slave”) line about President Obama, despite Ross pushing him multiple times with leading questions seeking criticism of Obama. The misrepresentation of RFK, Jr’s words in both the headline and the story was, well, wrong. And, the failure to change the web headline, even after all the critiques, is wrong.
However … However, there are several things where ABC merits praise.
1. Despite the failure to change the headline, ABC (and Brian Ross) aren’t ignoring the issue, but are actively engaged. (Perhaps in damage control, but engaged.) This stands in strong contrast with how Fred Hiatt and The Washington Post have (mis)handled the serial distortions of George Will’s Will-ful Deceit and the extended pain of The Will Affair with its civil war inside the paper. Thus, kudos to ABC for engaging with those raising questions and challenges.
2. There are many elements of the ABC story (and Ross’ “Blotter” post) meriting some positive attention. For some thoughts, follow me after the fold.
Let’s take a brief look at some areas meriting praise
Let us be clear. The ABC reporting is not some incredible investigative report uncovering the serial deceptions of the coal industry nor does it highlight so many ways in which burning coal hurts the environment and humanity. In fact, their reporting is in line with how the media has become more questioning of so-called Clean Coal in the past few months (thank you Reality Campaign?). Even so, ABC’s segment was (absent the racially-tinged, inflammatory headline) a reality-based report and, considering how often reporting doesn’t even make that standard, thus meriting acknowledgment.
While ABC and Brian Ross merit some darts for the inflammatory misrepresentation of RFK JR’s words (and an apology is warranted) and their attempts to shut down critics, ABC and Brian Ross merit some laurels for a reality-based discussion of the complexities and fantasies of coal and oil industry promoted “clean coal”. Lets hope that ABC’s and Brian Ross’s future laurels for such reality-based reporting aren’t marred by darts …