How Screwed Up Is The Media?

[PJgunner]

Many years ago now, before I retired, I worked for the Weather Bureau. Every time we had a waether situation, primarily due to thunderstorm damage, this one reporter for the paper would call for an interview. I'd give him the facts as they happened and if they were not lurid enough, he'd embellish the hell out of them. The next day, the boss would chew my butt for exagerating the facts, which I hadn't done. I got to the point where I would refuse to give him the interview and said I would give one to some other reporter, but not him. He calls up the boss and I get reamed out again. After all, it's all about "freedom of the press" and all that garbage. I don't recall "freedom to lie" though.
So, I am ordered to give the guy an interview if he calls. Well, needless to say, he called after the next strom and I let him know in no uncertain circumstances that one, I was taping the interview, and if he misquotes me by just one word he would have his typewriter or word processor or what ever he uses being used as a suppository in his nether regions sideways. After that, I never got misquoted or had an interview embellished again.
The really sad part of all that is I really was hoping he'd misquote me. I had a very strong dislike for that fellow.
Paul B.