Wednesday, October 19, 2011

AnnArbor.com, please cite your sources



Dear AnnArbor.com,

I'm not saying you got your information about the Bryant Elementary play structure fire from my article yesterday. I do find it suspicious that exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes after I wrote about fire, you posted about the same thing. Honestly, I'm glad that you are reading Damn Arbor. That said, in the future when you find out about stories from us, could you please give us a hat tip? I think it's more than fair to expect you to link to our articles when you receive information about a story from us. I shouldn't have to post a link to our articles in the comments of your stories. Not only is it an unfair chore for me, but I also become subject to insults and ridicule from some of the other members of your site.

On Damn Arbor we strive to always credit and link to our sources. In the past when we've written articles on the same subject as stories in the Com, we've acknowledged it and provided links to those stories. All I'm asking is for you to do the same.

I look forward to continuing our journalistic relationship.

-Ben

13 comments:

  1. I noticed the same thing. Very questionable.

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  2. hahaha I saw that they tweeted this story after you posted it. I think it's time for a SHOWDOWN with Cindy.

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  3. My favorite is the comments in reply to yours that boil down to "I've never heard of you, therefore you don't exist."

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  4. It's not like Cindy Heflin writes articles about other news sources articles, oh wait…

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  5. Had pretty much the same thing happen me-self with Juliana Keeping. Not saying she's a bad writer or a bad person, but doing such a thing does make for a lack of journalistic integrity.

    And we don't even have to have integrity!

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  6. @Quinn, considering we have no "journalistic integrity" I shudder to imagine what things must be like at the Com where they have even less.

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  7. I found this timely, in light of the reaction Ben's comment seems to be getting from the hoi polloi over at the Com: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/Philadelphia-Weekly-Staff-Writer-Tara-Murtha-Philly-Anonymous-Commenters.html

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  8. Andy, didn't you give up reading the Com? Have you relapsed?

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  9. I think it might be a mere coincidence...but still. I do love the posts of how you don't amount to anything and therefore don't deserve credit. That sounds very much like how Cowherd was towards Mzone.

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  10. I ONLY visited the Com to verify the content of this post ;) I promise!

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