Online Public Relations Thoughts

The Associated Press fired the reporter who got the story wrong about the errant missile that landed in Poland. The journalist violated AP's anonymous sourcing standards in his article that blamed Russia for the missile strike that most likely came from Ukraine.  The AP places an iron value on accuracy as well it should.  Would that all media follow the same rules of getting stories right.  But, they don't have to do so, and many misinform the public regularly.  In the internet age, lack of accuracy is an international problem and not just a correction in a local newspaper.  Stories fly around the earth in minutes.  Errors compound public confusion over issues and can prompt unwanted action.  The AP rightly understands the need to get the facts right each and every time.