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White house didnt challenge memos Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-12-cbs-media_x.htmUSA TODAY obtained copies of the memos Wednesday night, shortly after the 60 Minutes broadcast, and reported that in Thursday's editions. The newspaper's editors, like those at other media, relied in part on the fact that the White House did not challenge the memos' authenticity and released copies late Wednesday.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-12-cbs-media_x.htm
Amid criticism, CBS stands by its reports
By Mark Memmott, USA TODAY
CBS News again defended its reporting Sunday, even as other media raised doubts about the authenticity of memos the network uncovered about President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard.
Spokeswoman Sandy Genelius said CBS "continues to work the story." CBS looked at all the issues critics raised about the documents before it reported about the memos last Wednesday on 60 Minutes, she said. "We did due diligence" and are satisfied the documents "are genuine," she said. (Related story: Memos debate eclipse content)
But newspapers and TV networks have presented experts with different opinions — though no consensus — about the documents' authenticity. The stories underscore how difficult it can be for reporters, editors, readers and viewers to make sense of the news when the news media rely on unnamed sources and when technical questions cast suspicions over key evidence.
The controversy also renews questions about whether the media are more vulnerable to being manipulated by partisans seeking to influence the presidential campaign.
"Everything just goes so much faster" in the age of the Internet and cable news networks, says Charlotte Grimes, professor of political reporting at Syracuse University. "It's very hard for the media to find a firm place to stand and sort facts from reality."
Indeed, many newspapers on Thursday gave prominent play to stories about questions the memos may produce regarding Bush's National Guard service, without raising significant doubts about their authenticity. Friday, the stories took a 180-degree turn: the coverage was focused on whether the memos are real.
The debate about the memos began after Dan Rather's report Wednesday on 60 Minutes. Almost immediately, the Internet was abuzz with charges from conservative "bloggers" that the documents might be fakes. They allegedly were written by Texas Air National Guard Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, since deceased, who was one of then-Lt. George W. Bush's commanders. (Related item: Bush's military records)
USA TODAY obtained copies of the memos Wednesday night, shortly after the 60 Minutes broadcast, and reported that in Thursday's editions. The newspaper's editors, like those at other media, relied in part on the fact that the White House did not challenge the memos' authenticity and released copies late Wednesday.
"Since we've become aware of questions about the authenticity we've been pursuing those questions aggressively," USA TODAY Executive Editor John Hillkirk said Sunday.
The Internet chatter, which continued throughout the day Thursday, helped spur The Washington Post and The NewYork Times to have experts examine copies of the memos. Both Friday stories cast doubt on the documents.
Rather has long been criticized by some conservatives as being emblematic of the liberal news media.
On Friday's CBS Evening News, he narrated a nearly six-minute report on the controversy, a long piece for a network news show. He said "some people — including many who are partisan political operatives," were questioning the 60 Minutes story. The documents, Rather said, came from "un-impeachable sources" who remained unnamed.
On Saturday, a Boston Globe story lent credence to the memos' authenticity, while others in the Dallas Morning News and Los Angeles Times raised more questions.
While she strongly defended CBS' reporting Sunday, Genelius would not directly answer one question about the 60 Minutes story.
Asked twice whether the network contacted Killian's family before the 60 Minutes broadcast, Genelius would only say "we talked to many people" about the documents. Both Killian's son and his widow have since said they don't think he wrote the memos.
The network did not address the controversy on Sunday's editions of the CBS Evening News or 60 Minutes.
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