Jump to content

Brian Ross suspended from ABC News


ColDayNews

Recommended Posts

“ABC News has announced that Brian Ross would be suspended for four weeks without pay “effective immediately.”

 

“It is vital we get the story right and retain the trust we have built with our audience – these are our core principles. We fell far short of that yesterday,” the network said in a statement on Saturday. “Effective immediately, Brian Ross will be suspended for four weeks without pay.”

 

Ross came under considerable fire on Friday after he erroneously reported during a special report to ABC stations that then-candidate Donald Trump had instructed Michael Flynn to make contact with the Russians. In a correction seven hours later, the channel admitted that it was “President-elect” Trump who had made the request of Flynn — a pretty significant difference.

 

ABC issued a correction on Twitter and also updated their original article.”

 

From thewrap.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would this be the second or third time that ABC has reported incorrect information from Brian Ross? That’s a problem.

 

The truth is that these are people who do the best that they can reporting facts. They have editorial meetings to seek input and make chances to articles, but not every error is caught immediately. They edit the story to make corrections and update the reader as quickly as possible, but the writers are human and should be treated as foulable human-being. They shouldn't be put on a pedestal and be harshly judged should they make unintentional reporting gaffs. However this does not speak to the news organizations that design their context to create certain narratives that lead to alternate interpretations of facts. Let's be clear on this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A well deserved suspension for all the money people lost when the Dow plunged. I suspect this might escalate to termination. I bet a lot of angry stockholders that lost a fortune from this are considering legal action against ABC or Ross.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Watched Fox News a little today, around the top of the hour, Didn't see any reporting(Figured they would be all over this, but not a word) Was it on NN last night? Might we see a comment on WNT Tonight or tomorrow night?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And the president is suggesting a class action lawsuit against Ross and ABC.

 

Someone commented on a TVNewser article and gave this interesting link:

 

http://gawker.com/5927715/americas-wrongest-reporter-abc-news-brian-ross-demonstrates-yet-again-how-he-earned-the-title

 

Don't think Trump can sue Ross or ABC. George W. Bush didn't sue Dan Rather or CBS with their fake news report and fake docs about Bush's National Guard on 60 Minutes 2 that got Dan fired from CBS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They should just fire him, especially if this isn't his first incident of falsely reporting information because he didn't take his time to do one of the most basic tenants of journalism and verify his information. Suspending him for 4 weeks (again, especially since this isn't the first time) without pay merely makes it look like ABC is punishing him but have no problem bringing him back. Good Lord, BriWi was suspended for 6 months while NBC investigated other false claims he may have made.

 

Don't think Trump can sue Ross or ABC. George W. Bush didn't sue Dan Rather or CBS with their fake news report and fake docs about Bush's National Guard on 60 Minutes 2 that got Dan fired from CBS.

 

They could maybe make a case for slander. Also, just because W didn't do it doesn't mean that Trump can't do it. W doesn't have a vendetta against the networks like Trump does.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A well deserved suspension for all the money people lost when the Dow plunged. I suspect this might escalate to termination. I bet a lot of angry stockholders that lost a fortune from this are considering legal action against ABC or Ross.

Umm... the stock market is a giant casino... it goes down and so do you once you invest. You take that risk by buying stocks. You cannot take legal action over it. What would you do if it was a dirty bomb from ISIS that plunged the market? Sue them?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They should just fire him, especially if this isn't his first incident of falsely reporting information because he didn't take his time to do one of the most basic tenants of journalism and verify his information. Suspending him for 4 weeks (again, especially since this isn't the first time) without pay merely makes it look like ABC is punishing him but have no problem bringing him back. Good Lord, BriWi was suspended for 6 months while NBC investigated other false claims he may have made.

 

 

 

They could maybe make a case for slander. Also, just because W didn't do it doesn't mean that Trump can't do it. W doesn't have a vendetta against the networks like Trump does.

 

And BriWi’s false claims were about himself and not actual news reporting.

 

BriWi knowingly lied. Sounds like Brian Ross just didn’t do his homework and therefore reported something incorrect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One wonders what ABC plans to do once Brian Ross eventually retires (or is forced to retire). They haven't exactly been grooming a protege who would be clearly poised to take the helm of the investigative unit. Sure, Gio Benitez has done some of those GMA Investigates pieces, but I'm not sure the cleanliness of your humidifier is on the same level as, for example, Congressional improprieties.

 

So, I assume the options are

(1) Name a new investigative reporter who will lead the unit

(2) Maintain the Investigative Unit, but not designate a leader (e.g., multiple correspondents will report on investigative stories)

(3) Dissolve the unit, which seems least likely

Link to comment
Share on other sites

False reporting isn’t grounds for a lawsuit.

 

If a good lawyer can prove actual malice (a long shot here, but I wouldn't be shocked to see someone try it), it most certainly is.

 

The reaction to the erroneous report on The View Friday morning--an ABC News production, mind--would be a place to start.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One wonders what ABC plans to do once Brian Ross eventually retires (or is forced to retire). They haven't exactly been grooming a protege who would be clearly poised to take the helm of the investigative unit. Sure, Gio Benitez has done some of those GMA Investigates pieces, but I'm not sure the cleanliness of your humidifier is on the same level as, for example, Congressional improprieties.

 

So, I assume the options are

(1) Name a new investigative reporter who will lead the unit

(2) Maintain the Investigative Unit, but not designate a leader (e.g., multiple correspondents will report on investigative stories)

(3) Dissolve the unit, which seems least likely

 

(4)...

Farm it out to NBC Responds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using Local News Talk you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.