How Not to Be a Journalist

Eye on Annapolis » How to lose $100M in three months

Imagine you're a journalist/newspaper blogger who thinks he's on to something. For a long time, your soul has been dying here, dreaming of that Pulitzer you know you deserve, and then--can it be? Did you stumble on an actual scoop?

Nick Sohr, a baby-faced cutie pie from the Daily Record, has followed the money to discover that "From May to August, it appears Maryland lost about $100 million, give or take, in stimulus funds."

It gets worse. See, the money is not simply lost! It's all about "federal matching dollars and extended funding for entitlement programs." The conclusion Sohr reaches is clear:

So the $100 million drop from Q1 to Q2 means Marylanders needed less government assistance from the stimulus programs intended to help the needy and sick.

Not a bad way to lose $100 million, eh?

It's not clear whether he's being genuinely happy, funny, or cynical, but it is clear he's wrong. See, there's a punch line hidden at the bottom of the article:

Update 4:13 p.m.:

The good people at StateStat have filled me in on the final numbers for the second quarter (which still includes a bit of guesswork on the future funding of entitlement programs) and the state’s allocation now sits at $4.36 billion.

So much for losing $100 million. In fact, by my count, we’re up.

So... Realizing the entire premise of your article is wrong, are you going to remove the article? Are you going to change the title of the article? Hand in your resignation? Or are you going to keep the entire article, including the misleading title up, and only add a funny little Update at the bottom, making sure not to allow anyone to comment on your journalistic credentials?

Eye on Annapolis » How to lose $100M in three months