View Full Version : Is this a lie or accepted embellishment?
Run's House
Mar 5th 2008, 06:22 AM
On Monday night in Dallas we got like 2 inches of snow...so of course there was blow-the-budget-out coverage. Well, one of the stations did a small story about how a lot of schools were doing the TAKS (TX state standardized) tests the next day. They started the story with the following line, "Some area teachers are worried that the snow will affect student focus on the TAKS test tomorrow."
About 15 minutes later they ran a correction saying that the TAKS test was actually Wednesday and not Tuesday. So, essentially, that whole "area teachers are worried" line was just plain made up. I would rather a story start with the line "There COULD be some worry tomorrow...," but no.
On Monday night in Dallas we got like 2 inches of snow...so of course there was blow-the-budget-out coverage. Well, one of the stations did a small story about how a lot of schools were doing the TAKS (TX state standardized) tests the next day. They started the story with the following line, "Some area teachers are worried that the snow will affect student focus on the TAKS test tomorrow."
About 15 minutes later they ran a correction saying that the TAKS test was actually Wednesday and not Tuesday. So, essentially, that whole "area teachers are worried" line was just plain made up. I would rather a story start with the line "There COULD be some worry tomorrow...," but no.
It is a lie.
Any time you make up a "fact," that's a lie.
And whomever wrote the story needs to be disciplined.
Obewon
Mar 5th 2008, 07:51 AM
I agree
(Just trying to up my post count with worthless one-liners)
The Mockingbird
Mar 5th 2008, 08:50 AM
You don't know that a teacher didn't think the test was tomorrow, and started the story idea rolling in the first place.
ewink
Mar 5th 2008, 09:07 AM
You don't know that a teacher didn't think the test was tomorrow, and started the story idea rolling in the first place.
That would mean that instead of a lie, it was incompetence by the station. Which is worse?
adam & doctor drew
Mar 5th 2008, 09:36 AM
how exactly did they know teachers were worried?
did they talk to any?
vuphinder
Mar 5th 2008, 11:48 AM
I "concur" with Obi wan.
The Mockingbird
Mar 6th 2008, 03:10 AM
That would mean that instead of a lie, it was incompetence by the station. Which is worse?
Actually, even if it's a lie, it still has to be incompetence by the station, so I'd pick the scenario without the lie.
SamG
Mar 6th 2008, 03:12 AM
Playing devils advocate...
1) I assume the piece you mention ran Monday night so the "tomorrow" reference was regarding Tuesday, the day before the test.
2) Were teachers going to review information for the test with students on Tuesday? Could distracted students have a problem "getting" such information?
3) Adam & Doctor Drew had the key question... maybe they talked to a teacher who mentioned it to them. You think reporters all know when the standardized tests are? You even say "a lot" of schools were taking the test on Wednesday, what about the others? Could "some" have been taking them on Tuesday?
Run's House
Mar 6th 2008, 06:12 AM
Playing devils advocate...
1) I assume the piece you mention ran Monday night so the "tomorrow" reference was regarding Tuesday, the day before the test.
2) Were teachers going to review information for the test with students on Tuesday? Could distracted students have a problem "getting" such information?
3) Adam & Doctor Drew had the key question... maybe they talked to a teacher who mentioned it to them. You think reporters all know when the standardized tests are? You even say "a lot" of schools were taking the test on Wednesday, what about the others? Could "some" have been taking them on Tuesday?
Well, the story as a whole was essentially a tease for tomorrow's newspaper headlines, and they were trying to segue from the storm coverage. It was essentially a throw away lead to get to the FSCG. Yes, I did say "a lot," but the testing is throughout the year (different subjects/different grades spread around the calendar). Wednesday was just one of the major days. There was NOTHING on Tuesday.
I will agree that they COULD have been reviewing and there MAY have been some concern to that regard. But they flat out said that there would be focus pulled from taking the test. It's just one of those LIKELY assumptions that news producers make, which is just a product of laziness.
The Mockingbird
Mar 6th 2008, 10:31 AM
I don't know if I'd necessarily blame that on the producer, because I know a LOT of anchors who love "spicing up" copy, and that is absolutely the sort of transition they'd put in. I'd at least put them on the suspect list. :)
s'news
Mar 7th 2008, 07:28 PM
Maybe teachers might be concerned with the test coming during that week.
Angel's Hell
Mar 8th 2008, 08:04 AM
maybe they got a call from one teacher who had no clue when the tests were done...here in VA when the principal sends out the days for the tests there are always a few idiots who don't read the memo and don't know. That is the type of person who gets fired, sooner than later I should imagine.