Final Word from Wednesday, October 11, 2006
It's happened to many a journalist: A trusted source is totally wrong about a story, and the reporter looks like an idiot. Some journalists take the hit with humility and start checking their facts better. Miroslav Korecký of Týden decided to put the blame on his source, Ladislav Jakl, when Jakl served him French duck regarding a presidential medal of honor for Petr Hájek. Jakl led Korecký to believe that the Petr Hájek in question was - scandal of all scandals - Klaus's spokesman. Korecký relied on only one source and had to eat his words when it turned out that it was a different Petr Hájek. MFD, which likes to dote on Klaus, hastened to squash any hint of a Rummy-isn't-returning-Condi's-calls-type conflict between Jakl and Hájek. Most other media outlets dared not touch that issue. No reason to call attention to the common practice of relying on only one - often self-interested - source for scoops.[Czech Republic Castle Václav Klaus Donald Rumsfeld Condoleezza Rice United States George W. Bush MF Dnes]