Instead, we circle the wagons, and bury defensively-worded corrections, which further alienates our public. They blamed everyone but themselves, and at the same time tried to get credit through the appearance of owning up. Look, I don't doubt that three investigators told the Globe they were exploring an affair as a possible motive. But come on, that's the game investigators play they look at everything. That's their job.
Newspapers have a different job.
It's to be right. Nor am I saying journalists should stop relying on sources. It can be important when writing about official misconduct, or stories relevant to the public good. But in some cases especially where the reputations of innocents are at stake we have to be extra careful. For the Globe to rush so volatile and slanderous a theory into print without evidence was unnecessary, even reckless, given that many lead law enforcement figures categorically denied it.