March 2012 Archives
Since being alerted that material in a past broadcast--the most listened-to broadcast in the show's history--was very likely fabricated, the radio show This American Life hasn't just retracted the story. It's just released its examination of how it ended up putting the material on the air at all.To retain or re-earn public trust, TAL chose to handle its mistake transparently, instead of grudgingly or totally out of sight. I find this remarkable--not because I'd expect less of TAL, but because so few people ever heed Watergate's alpha lesson: The cover-up is always worse than the crime.
If you listen to "Retraction" via streaming or podcast, go ahead and donate some money to TAL. Bandwidth costs, and with this story the TAL crew has only underlined how deserving it is of our dollars. Or, save yourself some guilt by finding it on the terrestrial radio, or buying a TAL mobile app.
Full disclosure: The TAL story, as well as its retraction, deal with working conditions at Apple factories in China. I use Apple products and own shares of Apple stock.
Short, sweet, and clear as a champagne flute:
Important Independent Journalist Disclaimer: No endorsement of Howdini is intended or implied in the re-posting of this video. Enthusiasm for journalists making champagne cocktails, however, is fully endorsed.
