Over the past several months this website has shone the bright light of hindsight on decisions that led Julian into Juliet. We have examined the failings of gossip and music industry intelligence, especially on the issue of the Strokes’ aural charms and possible connections to international women. We have studied the allegations of official gullibility and hype. It is past time we turned the same light on ourselves.
In doing so — reviewing hundreds of posts, or rather, one, written during the prelude to Julian’s engagement and into the early stages of the co-occupation of an apartment — we found an enormous amount of journalism that we are proud of. In most cases, what we reported was an accurate reflection of the state of our knowledge at the time, much of it painstakingly extracted from gossip sources that were themselves dependent on sketchy information. And where those posts (or, well, that one post) included incomplete information or pointed in a wrong direction, they were later overtaken by more and stronger information. That is how news coverage normally unfolds.
But we have found a number of instances of coverage that was not as rigorous as it should have been. In some cases, information that was controversial then, and seems questionable now, was insufficiently qualified or allowed to stand unchallenged. Looking back, we wish we had been more aggressive in re-examining the claims as new evidence emerged — or failed to emerge.
Some critics of our coverage during that time have focused blame on individual reporters. Our examination, however, indicates that the problem was more complicated. Editors at several levels who should have been challenging reporters and pressing for more skepticism were perhaps too intent on rushing scoops onto the website. Accounts of other suitors were not always weighed against our strong desire to have Julian taken off the singles’ market. Articles based on dire claims about the Strokes tended to get prominent display, while follow-up articles that called the original ones into question were sometimes buried. In some cases, there was no follow-up at all.
We consider the story of Julian’s engagement, and of the pattern of misinformation, to be unfinished business. And we fully intend to continue aggressive reporting aimed at setting the record straight.
On an unrelated note, Judith Miller has been fired from her position as low culture‘s Satire-but-Not-Credited-as-Such reporter.
10 replies on “From the Editors: low culture and The Strokes”
Oh, it was brilliant, right until the end. Too obvs.
wiat hes not getting married?
so is he or isnt he engaged?
More Confused now!
EVERYONE IS CONFUSED!!
Speaking of Judith Miller it never fails to amaze how officials and correspondents and afficinados(experts?) produce some of the most disturbing and psychotically enabling verbage in the media.
I remember JMiller appearing right after 9-11 and she was one of many stoking the fires of shock. Endless rants about this toxin and that friggin’ toxin. My sixth sense bell went off but I couldn’t be sure, now it’s two and half years later and Judy is busted.
She’s not the only one, I heard another Fed Official today holding a press conf. and he gave detailed info where none was needed. I Cringe. Thousands of fringe characters of all ages and dispositions were just handed another destructive idea.
Deeply disappointed she was part of the team here.
Yes. It is sad but true, Julian Casablancas is getting married to Juliet Joslin some time before October.
Julian has been fooling around with so many girls, that the relationship is very shaky.
He is not marrying juliet before october
fink bout it though juliet is what 20 summink and soooo if ur like 6 yearz or 10 yearz or wuteva younger than her thennnnn u find julian and hu dya fink hez gunna go 4? his old misses or a younger more prettier gurl??? das my plan ne wayz
not that im a home wrecker or ne fin