Our weekly recognition of less-than-meritorious excellence in journalism is worthy of Pulitzer Prize consideration.
As an extension of the media-mocking venture at Townhall, Riffed From The Headlines, we once again recognize the exalted performances in our journalism industry and compile worthy submissions to the Pulitzer Prize board in numerous categories. We must recognize journalistic mistakes-excellence to be able to correctly identify them.
Distinguished Breaking News
- Yamiche Alcindor – MSNBC
Leak from the Supreme Court regarding the draft opinion may show a vote for overturning the Roe V. Wade decision has the press in full meltdown mode. Sometimes, the unbalanced coverage can be hilarious. MSNBC’s Yamiche Alcindor, a field reporter, was back with another report. This time, Alcindor gave some shocking news: Pregnancies are going to become children!
Cemented-head commentary is enhanced by the network that displays it. Breaking News chyron as she delivers this trenchant report.
Yamiche Alcindor is worried that “women who are poor, women of color…will be forced to have pregnancies that they cannot afford to terminate, and pregnancies that will then turn into children.” pic.twitter.com/oqhd1vD11y
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 3, 2022
Distinguished Investigative Reporting
- Yakob Reyes — PolitiFact
After Ron DeSantis commented on student loan debt, PolitiFact contacted his press office to ask where he got the figure, when he said that “About 60% of this is graduate school debt.” Press Secretary Christina Pushaw had to explain that the figure came from The Poynter Institute’s own website. PolitiFact would also be based on them.
After that awkward exchange Pushaw predicted that 56 percent of the real figure would result in them calling his speech Most False Pushaw had only an hour to reply to her question because of a deadline. Two days later, she received the article, which proved to be correct.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said: “the student debt that is out there, almost 60% of it is graduate school debt.”
Our research found that his claims were mostly false.
Continue reading @PolitiFact: https://t.co/QSSsXSlscf
— Yacob Reyes (@yacob_reyes) May 5, 2022
Distinguished Editorial Writing
- Will Saletan – Bulwark
Saletan stated that, “If…” was a very trenchant explanation in his analysis. Roe Vs. WadeRepublicans would not like it if the issue was turned over. So here is the site comprised of allegedly Tru-Conservatives™ bemoaning that the GOP might see a core conservative issue pass, and suggesting the best thing would be to instead cede it over to the Democrats.
It is a small matter that a poll recently showed all of the claims were completely incorrect.
The GOP is in serious trouble if Roe is overturned.
This article is based on the results of the polls.
– Voters decisively support legal abortion
– Losing Roe boosts Dem turnout
– Dems are more likely to make this their voting issue
– Pro-choice candidates have the advantagehttps://t.co/GAlqTRQp09— Will Saletan (@saletan) May 5, 2022
Distinguished Cultural Commentary
- Mike Pomranz – Food & Wine Magazine
Call it any number of things — unnecessary, a crass marketing ploy, or a sign of our society verging on the edge of utter collapse. A cereal specifically made to be eaten with orange-flavored juice cannot be considered positive.
Why do we need milk? Tropicana Created a Cereal Specifically for Orange Juice—and they say it comes with a straw!!
Do you want to try it?
https://t.co/XCy2jceNO8— Lenise Ligon (@LeniseLigon) April 27, 2022
Distinguished Sports Reporting
- Jerry Foltz — The Golf Channel
Lydia Ko saw her being taken care of by her instructor on the LPGA Tour during the Palos Verdes Champion. Jerry Foltz asked Ko what treatment she received after the round.
She explained why she was having some back spasms – “It’s that time of the month. I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you.” Foltz looked rather confused and lost as he tossed it back at the studio booth. He might have liked it if she simply stated that she plays with a disability.
Interviewer left speechless by Lydia Ko’s response to the question, “Honesty it IS” https://t.co/jzLFIigM6q pic.twitter.com/bHPFPPtAml
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) May 2, 2022
Outstanding Local Reporting
- Tamara Vaifanus — KSL-TV Salt Lake City
One of the featured items was tipped to its original owner after a report from the station on the Lost and Found section at Salt Lake International Airport. The object was a stuffed rodent, which was created by a taxidermist who then reclaimed it.
“It was fun. He just sat right here, right in the trees,” said airport lost and found supervisor Brett Christensen. “We started getting hats for him. He’s got a cowboy hat, and a black top hat.”
Staff at Salt Lake City International Airport encountered the taxidermy Rat as one of their most unusual items. However, the two bonded and were unaware that 8 months later, the owner would be found. https://t.co/DDvlVhdoER
— KSL (@KSLcom) May 4, 2022
Rice Cake Honor:recognizing content-free reporting)
- David K. LI — NBC News
At first blush, you see the headline and come to think there has to be more to this story about a discovery a family made with items inside of the home’s walls, more so that a titled Investigative Reporter delivered this “news.” But nope, it is just as they said — they found some fast food garbage left behind decades ago by the workers of the home.
“Not a cold bag, but some cold fries.” A family finds an old McDonald’s bag containing two wrappers for hamburgers and a very well-preserved order in the wall. https://t.co/fcNmLWbXMm
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 30, 2022