With Glass, Blair, and now Kelley, this article says something we should all be aware of. We should never accept anything just because it's printed, broadcast, or comes to us. Without trust, there's no validity in any media, but even trusted sources should be questioned and checked.

This hits home for me since much of my work in UTK is based on unnamed sources. I don't do this to be cute, but because without anonymity, almost no one would speak to me. Most of the sources I have would actually be on the edge of a HIPAA violation by giving me information, but they've all learned to trust that I'll use the information responsibly. Where I can, I use names or offer information to show the source isn't blue sky, but I also have a responsibility to my sources.

How then do we check? By checking, double-checking, and watching each other. The blogging community and the interactive reader act as that check. I couldn't do something like plagiarize or make something up without getting called out quickly on any number of sites, discussion boards, and such. Newspapers and larger media outlets don't have this. Yet.

I had an email exchange today with Larry Rocca. You'd know him as the author of this article, which got widely discussed. Rocca thinks I misquoted and misinterpreted him in my discussion of his piece on UTK. I won't detail the private exchange, but we disagree. I have offered Rocca a slot on BPR to give his side, but he hasn't responded yet.