The Union backs down on its exaggerated reporting (again)

Editor’s note: In an article published Thursday, Dec. 12, (“Nevada City Mayor Reinette Senum dodges sanctions, underlying issues unaddressed (VIDEO)” The Union wrongly reported that Vice Mayor Erin Minett had received death threats from the public. Minett said she deleted one phone message that she considered a threat, but didn’t consider it to be threatening to her life. According to Minett, the anonymous message said, “You better start siding with the right side. We know where you live.”

The trouble is that The Union can’t “take it back”‘ from the print edition that circulated with the same “wrongly reported” information.

The Union ought to rent the movie “Absence of Malice” for the staff. And Nevada City Hall might consider doing the same for the City Council and its staff. Although the details are vastly different, it’s a cautionary tale about “getting the facts straight.” The trailer is here.

Author: jeffpelline

Jeff Pelline is a veteran editor and award-winning journalist - in print and online. He is publisher of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine and its website SierraCulture.com. Jeff covered business and technology for The San Francisco Chronicle for 12 years, and he was a founding editor and Editor of CNET News for eight years, among other positions. Jeff has a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's from Northwestern University. His hobbies include sailing, swimming, and trout fishing in the Sierra. View all posts by jeffpelline