http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/02/new-york-times-public-editor-throws-reporter-under-the-electric-bus/ [image] New York Times Public Editor Throws Reporter Under The Electric Bus By Derek Kreindler Feb 19 2013
[image / wikipedia.org http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/02/Model_S.jpg Tesla Model S ] The New York Times had their public editor (think ombudsman) publish a response to the whole “Dead Tesla’ fiasco (summary by our own Dan Wallach here [ http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/02/tesla-vs-the-new-york-times-lets-check-the-logs/ ]), and it is far from kind to reporter John Broder. While Public Editor Margaret Sullivan defends Broder [ http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/problems-with-precision-and-judgment-but-not-integrity-in-tesla-test/#more-3373 ] against Tesla founder Elon Musk’s claims that he “faked” his test drive, she does just about everything else possible to impugn his journalistic cred. Witness Sullivan’s epic qualification when sticking up for her writer - My own findings are not dissimilar to the reader I quote above, although I do not believe Mr. Broder hoped the drive would end badly. I am convinced that he took on the test drive in good faith, and told the story as he experienced it. - Did he use good judgment along the way? Not especially. In particular, decisions he made at a crucial juncture – when he recharged the Model S in Norwich, Conn., a stop forced by the unexpected loss of charge overnight – were certainly instrumental in this saga’s high-drama ending. Sullivan claims she consulted with - “…Mr. Broder, Mr. Musk, two key Tesla employees, other Times journalists, the tow-truck driver and his dispatcher, and a Tesla owner in California, among others…I’ve also had a number of talks with my brother, a physician, car aficionado and Tesla fan, who has helped me balance what might have been a tendency to unconsciously side with a seasoned and respected journalist – my own “confirmation bias.” Perhaps Ms. Sullivan’s brother could have been replaced by someone with an engineering or automotive background rather than a Tesla fan and car nut, who surely comes with his own set of biases and, in the case of the average car aficionado, opinions that are largely formed based on hearsay and a quick scan of a buff book while waiting in the CVS checkout line. Also missing is one crucial element that most of you are aware of, but Sullivan seems ignorant of; the element of pressure from an OEM when testing a car or anything related to the car on a manufacturer-arranged drive. Tesla has operated some of the most tightly controlled testing protocols [ http://jalopnik.com/5918341/why-you-shouldnt-trust-any-early-tesla-model-s-reviews ] we’ve seen in some time (TTAC has yet to drive the car outside of a brief preview [ http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/08/capsule-review-tesla-model-s/ ]). If anything, invoking the Holy Cause of journalistic integrity would call for Sullivan and the NYT to push back against any interference or petulant PR campaign from Tesla and Elon Musk. In the wake of Jayson Blair and Judith Miller, the Grey Lady is doubtlessly sensitive to claims of journalistic incompetence – or worse. But if Sullivan had consulted someone besides a few Tesla employees and her brother, this crucial element may have been brought to the surface, and a different tone may have been adopted. [© 2011 The Truth About Cars] http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/nyt-public-editor-weighs-in-on.html NYT public editor weighs in on Tesla/Musk drama, throws Broder under electric car New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan on the controversy over John M. Broder’s NYT review of the Tesla S, which upset Elon Musk and many fans of his electric vehicles: "I do not believe Mr. Broder hoped …Boing Boing (blog) · ByXeni Jardin http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2415587,00.asp NYT Public Editor Dings Both Sides in Tesla Test Drive Dispute The public editor of The New York Times has issued her final proclamation on Times reporter John Broder's contentious test drive of a Tesla Model S electric car and the critical response of the review from Tesla CEO …PC Magazine · ByDamon Poeter http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/19/new-york-times-admits-some-problems-in-poor-review-of-tesla-car/ New York Times Admits Some ‘Problems’ in Poor Review of Tesla Car Last week, a rather poor review in the New York Times detailing the experience of John Broder’s test drive of the Tesla Model S electric vehicle was called into question by the company’s co-founder, Elon Musk, who released evidence contrary ...Theblaze · ByLiz Klimas http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2013/02/19/tesla-up-5-nyt-drop-in-the-rear-view-mirror/ Tesla Up 5%; NYT Drop in the Rear View Mirror Tesla CEO Elon Musk launched a furious response ... His verdict? This is an upscale electric vehicle. Everything is there, including Internet if you want to access it. This is not a tin can with an electric engine. It’s what … http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2013/02/19/tesla-model-s-owners-broder-trip/#.USROk_JZAxo Tesla Model S Owners Successfully Recreate Broder’s “Failed” Trip After CNN did the story where one of their reporters successfully finished the famous “Broder” trip in a Tesla Model S, now a pack of actual owners want to defend its reputation, too. I would say that this is adding …greenoptimistic.com http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2013/0212/My-Nissan-Leaf-life-the-Times-s-Tesla-mistake My Nissan Leaf life: the Times's Tesla mistake The rest is compromise. Take that heater that proved so troublesome for the Times’s reporter. Turning the heater down, as he did in the Tesla, doesn’t give you that much extra juice, at least in a Leaf. You have to turn it …The Christian Science Monitor · ByMark Clayton · 2/13/2013 http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2013/02/18/tesla-owners-take-solidarity-road-trip/ Tesla Owners Take Solidarity Road Trip A group of Tesla Model S owners, charged up over a recent New York Times column that challenged the reliability of the electric vehicle, hit the road this weekend to replicate the same drive the Times reporter made. The …Wall Street Journal · ByLauren Goode For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-NYT-Throws-Reporter-Under-The-Electric-Bus-tp4661450.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
