You're trying to weigh the values and news judgment that you acquire in the course of your work, and I think we've been successful doing that. There's been a mishap or two along the way that we've tried to learn from. We read the wire first ourselves, so one way or another we've tripped over citations that we've either changed or regretted. Joshua S. Fouts, editor of the Online Journalism Review, produced at the University of Southern California, says reporters do have a responsibility to check the accuracy of Web sites to which they send their readers. The difference is that I, as an informed reader, recognize that I'm getting a certain person's opinion, and that needs to be understood.
Some media companies think so, too, and disclaimers also are becoming common.
On occasion, she says, she will add a more explicit warning. The AP began incorporating Web addresses in national stories on March 6 and on state wires at the end of April. But I don't see that as a danger to democracy or the public interest. For that and other reasons, many news organizations have been hesitant to post more links. Now the perspective has changed a bit, that we don't want people to leave our site as easily, so we're a little more selective about which links we include.