Jon Carroll's Russert column.

[EFerrari]

As usual, he waited until people got their minds back before trying to talk to them about it.



Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Jon Carroll

So there seems to be a small controversy because the news of Tim Russert's death broke on Wikipedia 40 minutes before NBC chose to announce it. NBC was holding the announcement until members of Russert's family, traveling in Italy, could be notified. According to the New York Times, a "junior-level employee" at Internet Broadcasting Services, in Minnesota, heard the news and thought to update Wikipedia to reflect current reality.

Eleven minutes later, the Wikipedia entry was changed so that the date of death was deleted and all the past tenses were changed back to present tenses. And then, of course, very soon thereafter the changes to the changes were unchanged, and Russert was dead again.

Now, I'm all in favor of good taste and discretion. I'm all in favor of news outlets observing high standards of courtesy, particularly with regard to grieving families. It seems to me, however, that the Wikipedia controversy brings to light an interesting double standard.

When actor Heath Ledger died in New York in January, I don't believe the news media waited to report the news until all the members of his family (many of whom live in western Australia) were notified. I also don't remember any reluctance by the media, a year earlier, to release the story of Anna Nicole Smith's death in Florida until all her loved ones were told of her demise.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2008/06/24/DD6C11DPLI.DTL

[tularetom]

1. When we used to take the Chronicle

the first thing I always read was Jon Carroll.

I see the quality of his writing hasn't diminished over the years.

Thanks for reminding me I can get this stuff online.

WTF am I doing up this late?

[EFerrari]

4. Hey, Tom. Jon Carroll is about the only thing I read at the Chron

any more -- except for maybe "Bad Reporter" which is also great.



:hi:

[EFerrari]

2. Kick

[Carnea]

3. Must read piece great ....Kick

:kick:

[Buzz Clik]

5. Tim Russert died? Whoa.

:shrug:



































:evilgrin:

[EFerrari]

6. Read the damn column. lol

:spank: