Convergent Journalism: An Introduction, 2nd Edition

4

Reporting Beyond the Basics

Scott Reinardy

Introduction

Oramel Barrett was a newspaperman. Born in Norwich, Vermont, he enjoyed political journalism, criticized American wars and disliked the government’s assault on civil liberties.

Everything in the above paragraph is true. However, it does not represent the entire truth. Barrett owned a Democratic-leaning newspaper in Harrisburg in the mid-19th century that opposed the Civil War, oftentimes distorting facts to support his cause.

Barrett’s most notable journalistic faux pas came in November 1863. As the owner and editor of the Harrisburg Patriot & Union, he wrote:

We pass over the silly remarks of the president. For the credit of the nation we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be ...