Updated Story-Grand Canyon Rescue

[Scott P]

The other thread was locked so I couldn't post anything there, but here's an updated and much better story about the

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.yahoo ... 06941.html

Hopefully this clears anything up and hopefully the theread here will be useful (I hesitated to post the story, but I think it's a good one to share). Hopefully people can have a much better discussion on this one and the thread won't get locked.

As for the other person who posted the erroneous story; not his fault at all. It was really the Sherriff's Department that screwed this one up. The media outlets just reported what the sherriff department reported on the Facebook page. I'm not sure how they screwed this one up. Of course the rescuers from that same department did a great job and deserved to be praised.

Anyway, here's the real story in pretty good detail. It was just a matter of slipping on a rock while crossing a creek and could happen to anyone.

[bdloftin77]

Thanks Scott for clearing this up. Shows how the media can really twist up stories.

And to the original poster of the other thread, I would have had the same gut reaction! No worries!

[Scott P]

Thanks Scott for clearing this up. Shows how the media can really twist up stories.

In this case, they just copied it off the Sheriff's office Facebook page, but still.

[bdloftin77]

Thanks Scott for clearing this up. Shows how the media can really twist up stories.

I'm this case, they just copied it off the Sheriff's office Facebook page, but still.

That's true, they'd have no chance of getting it right if the sheriff's office gets it wrong in the first place.

[timisimaginary]

yes, now that the full and accurate story is out, they did do everything (mostly) right. i would quibble with the decision to split up when it leaves one party with no means of communication. even without splitting up, for such a long trip in such remote territory, a backup communication device would have been good to have.

[cedica]

Thanks Scott for clearing this up. Shows how the media can really twist up stories.

I'm this case, they just copied it off the Sheriff's office Facebook page, but still.

That's true, they'd have no chance of getting it right if the sheriff's office gets it wrong in the first place.

They are not supposed to be sheriff's office PR. What happened to independent verification of the facts, being the voice of the voiceless and speaking truth to power?

[timisimaginary]

I'm this case, they just copied it off the Sheriff's office Facebook page, but still.

That's true, they'd have no chance of getting it right if the sheriff's office gets it wrong in the first place.

They are not supposed to be sheriff's office PR. What happened to independent verification of the facts, being the voice of the voiceless and speaking truth to power?

most media these days can barely generate enough revenue to keep the lights on. sadly, journalism standards go downhill when they can't afford to conduct actual journalism, and have to depend on just repeating press releases from official sources.

[DeTour]

They are not supposed to be sheriff's office PR. What happened to independent verification fof the facts, being the voice of the voiceless and speaking truth to power?

There is also the matter of deadlines in that matter. The rush to get stories out fast - which has existed for centuries, just on a longer timeline than today - often leads to publication of news that isn’t fully sourced and investigated. You sometimes report the information you have, and then go searching for more context for the next news cycle. Not saying it’s right or wrong, just the way it’s been for a long time. But today’s faster news cycles do exacerbate it.

Speaking from experience here. As a former newsman, I know all about screwing up a report under deadline due to incomplete facts.

As for the story itself - rather than being a villain, the friend who left the injured hiker may have put in a heroic effort to catch up to the rest of the group with the emergency device.

[cedica]

It's just that Internet life that got them in its sway.

Dog ate their homework.

There's no need for any bad actors to troll us anymore, we are perfectly capable of doing it to ourselves.

[Bale]

Thanks Scott. I’ve witnessed a few accidents in the Wasatch and have been amazed at how many details the local news gets wrong. Not sure the general public really cares about the details, to them it’s just another dumbass hiker/ climber/ skier getting in trouble and needing a rescue.