THE PITS – AT 3:01 P.M. ET:  We write a great deal here about bad journalism, and we never exhaust the subject.  One of the worst ingredients of bad journalism is tasteless journalism, especially when committed by a "prestigious" newspaper.   The New York Times just committed a whopper.  From the Washington Times: 

The long knives (and brass knuckles) are clearly out for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. We wrote weeks ago about the organized Left’s attacks on President Trump’s most effective and influential cabinet secretary. His efforts in rolling back job-killing regulations have been a prime force in driving the Trump economy and the media and Democrats can’t stand it.

Through all of the attacks, smears and innuendos Pruitt has persevered and not gone shrinking into the night. In the rough and tumble world of the DC Swamp, Pruitt isn’t playing by the regular rules.

When hit pieces are published with half-truths and innuendo dressed up as “scandals” that aren’t really scandals at all, the “where there’s smoke there’s fire” attitude dictates that the target of the slime must acquiesce and resign. That’s just what’s expected.

But Pruitt won’t go. He has work to do and he’s going to do it. So now, they’re going after his family.

Last week the New York Times published the latest charge against Pruitt. They claim Pruitt forces employees at the EPA to do personal favors for the administrator and his family.

The most volatile and damning allegation was that Pruitt used his position as Trump’s man at EPA to twist arms at the University of Virginia Law School to get his daughter admitted. The implication is clear. That Pruitt’s daughter was admitted despite her lack of qualifications and only because her daddy is well placed in the Trump Administration.

Except, the story wasn’t true.

In a massive correction, The Times explains that not only did the recommendation for Pruitt’s daughter (a thing that pretty much every student acquires when applying for a prestigious school like UVA Law) was obtained not only before Pruitt was EPA Administrator, it happened before the presidential election of 2016.

COMMENT:  Please read the whole thing.  At least The Times apologized, but that is hardly enough.  The damage is done.  Every time this young woman's name is Googled, for the rest of her life, the "false story" is bound to come up.  Even after an apology, it leaves a shadow. 

First rule:  We don't go after the children of public figures.

Second rule:   All basic facts, especially dates and timelines, are checked before the story is handed in.

Third rule:  Blind hatred leads to bad journalism.

June 18,  2018