TO API EDITOR ON Mrs OBAMA STORY: Release the audio tape. Believe me it will be used for political purposes if it exists.
Posted by African Press International on October 17, 2008
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http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/on-mrs-obamas-call-to-api/
Author : The Lizard
Comment:
API Staff,
Your article yesterday created quite a stir. Now it is up to you to come up with the proof of this conversation. It has now been over 24 hours and there is corraborating evidence. Many voters have an interest in the evidence that this transpired. We have denials and that is the meme being pushed.
I wish to thank you for reporting the news. In the US this is big news. I have no other interest other than truth. I understand that you do not want the audio tape to go viral. The problem is that because this has been a large issue in the campaign with many internet rumors that if this tape exists and is published it will go viral.
Unfortunately, this is an election changer. That is what happens when news is reported. As I see it you have two choices:
1: release the audio tape. Believe me it will be used for political purposes if it exists. But it will never change the fact that you reported it as news and now you have a responsibility to back up your story with proof.
2: Don’t release the tape. If you do not release the tape you will lose all credibility. This is what happened in the comments on the story from yesterday. The Obama campaigned denied the story and have started attacking your credibility. Your organization will not recover from this lack of credibility.
It is journalistic responsibility to be able to back up accusations. Please provide the audio or some other verifiable proof this call happened. Perhaps you have the incoming phone number from the call. If you have this and dates and times this may suffice as proof.
If there is no proof please retract the story today. You are open to huge lawsuits for propagating this rumor. If untrue this is considered slander. Please do the right thing and either provide documented proof or retract the story.
Thank You.
By Lizard
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Published by API
