Date:    Tue, 2 Jun 1998 10:34:33 -0400
<br>From:    Gregory {Greg} Downing <gd2[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IS2.NYU.EDU>
<br>Subject: Re: bogus anecdotes
<br>
<br>At 09:27 AM 6/2/98 -0400, you wrote:
<br>>>A very common "authentifying" feature of such folklore is either "I was
<br>>>there" or "I heard it from someone who was there." I imagine that, as
<br>>>journalists, NYTimes writers are more likely to say that they themselves
<br>>>have obtained the information at first hand.
<br>>>
<br>>True, but note for this particular case that a Metropolitan Diary entry is
<br>>neither submitted by nor corroborated by a reporter, just selected by one.
<br>
<br>
<br>Since I don't read all of the Times except on weekends, I wasn't aware of
<br>that feature's special nonjournalistic status. You mean any of us can send
<br>them a fantasy, or a recast/improved anecdote, and they might print it if
<br>they think it's amusing? Is it the newspaper of record, or the newspaper of
<br>the dance remix?
<br>
<br>
<br>>(They're just sent in by readers, representing no more inherently accurate
<br>>pieces of journalism than, say, submissions to Penthouse Forum.)
<br>>
<br>>Larry
<br>>
<br>
<br>Gee, I was always told that the Old usedtobeGrey Lady holds herself to
<br>higher standards than Penthouse Fantasies, I mean Penthouse Forum.
<br>
<br>Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or gd2[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu
<br>