Earlier, we discussed the story of USA Today reporter Gabriela Miranda, who recently had 23 of her articles pulled from USA Today’s website following accusations that she fabricated sources and materials.
Scoop: USA Today is removing 23 articles from its website this afternoon after an investigation into accusations of fabrication by a reporter, Gabriela Miranda. Story TK.
— Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) June 16, 2022
Not exactly a good look for a trusted official social media “fact checker” like USA Today, but at least they figured it out eventually. And we’re sure the rest of their reporters’ cred is impeccable. Especially if they went to journalism school with this woman, Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares, who is currently an assistant professor at Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication. According to her, fabricating stuff when you’re a journalist is bad and everything, but it doesn’t mean you’re a bad journalist. In fact, it’s probably someone else’s fault:
Ok. Yes. Gabriela Miranda made huge, reprehensible mistakes and is facing the consequences. However, we should spend more time critiquing newsroom and corporate leaders at USA Today. Here’s why 🧵
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
Grab your oven mitts, because you’re in for some hot takes.
In my few years as a journalism educator, I’ve found that the younglings engage in unethical practices (ie, fabricating quotes, etc.) mostly out of desperation mixed with inexperience. Almost never laziness or nefarious intent
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
Young journalists don’t just make crap up because they’re lazy! They’re just so eager to please!
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Their failure to meet standards says as much about the unmanageable pressure they deal with and the little support/guidance they have as their personal shortcomings
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
J-schools (and newsrooms for that matter) are supposed to provide the structure and support necessary for reporters (esp young ones) to face the complexities of journalism and apply rigor every step of the way
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
With Miranda we have an early career reporter coming out of one of the most prestigious j-schools in the country and landing in one of the biggest newsrooms. So, how does this happen??
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
We have a few ideas, but let’s let Ayleen try to explain:
Massive layoffs have been shaking the news industry for years and the pandemic brought about more dramatic cuts. Many of the dismissed editorial staff were fact checkers & copy editors who are vital to uphold journalistic rigor https://t.co/IDQ76mcXks
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
I don’t fully know USA Today’s situation but it had big rounds of layoffs in 2014 and at the beginning of the pandemic. Like many other outlets, it also faces huge pressure from Gannett to cut cost while chasing ad revenue + audience engagement to the detriment of good journalism
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
(We’re willing to concede that USA Today hasn’t done good journalism in years.)
So, as newsrooms get rid of their internal accountability systems, exploit and underpay reporters, and thirst over likes for profit, we get the perfect breeding ground for (intentional and unintentional; disastrous and negligible) errors
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
Plug someone like Miranda, a young woman from a minoritized community trying to make it in a big (white) newsroom, and you get a recipe for failure
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
“Minorities are prone to cheating and lying” is a hell of a defense, but hey. Ayleen’s the professor here.
(Yes, I know that people fighting greater odds haven’t cheated to succeed. I’m not justifying or legitimizing her actions. I just understand that bigger forces were at play, setting the odds against a relatively vulnerable individual.)
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
It’s at this point that I resent USA T throwing Miranda under the bus saying that her work didn’t “meet our standards.” Excuse you? You PUBLISHED her work. You created an environment where basic fabrications could get past your team. Gann… USA Today failed her and the public
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
USA Today should definitely shoulder some guilt here. They let Miranda get away with journalistic malpractice for way too long. But presumably Miranda decided for herself to be a crappy journalist.
I’d be more suspicious of her editor than her. USA Today found out about this due to an EXTERNAL tip. Like, my friend, where were you with your fancy title and years of experience? Where’s your resignation letter? But no, it’s easier to put it all on Miranda
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
Well, Miranda’s the one who allegedly fabricated all the stuff, so …
Anyhow, I hope this young reporter is surrounded by loving people and mentors who hold her accountable and give her the tools to grow. As for USA Today, their disloyalty is showing and their broken strategies could keep jeopardizing young reporters and journalism more broadly
— Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (@ayleen_cabas) June 17, 2022
That last tweet makes no sense. Dr. Cabas-Mijares’ entire thread is making excuses for Miranda and explaining why she shouldn’t be held accountable for what she did.
I wrote this exact same thread two days ago https://t.co/hdqyFtYopc
— Paul E Sigh (@PaulESigh) June 17, 2022
That’s not something to brag about, dude. You should be embarrassed. Dr. Cabas-Mijares should be embarrassed. We’re embarrassed for both of you.
Its very hard for journos to be honest and truthful. We should give them a free pass. https://t.co/f1s5eWNO0w
— Johnny Utah (@JohnnyU2019) June 17, 2022
Ayleen’s thread is so, so bad.
Admittedly, I was trained as a lawyer, not a journalist, but it seems to me that "don't make s**t up and print it as fact" is a pretty basic lesson most of us learned about the newspaper business in grade school. https://t.co/v5v91AiAgh
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) June 17, 2022
Excuse thread. Just don't lie. It's not hard. https://t.co/WdmJtNGoP7
— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) June 17, 2022
“Don’t lie” is supposed to go without saying.
If you wonder why journalism standards are slipping, this thread will give you an illuminating window: https://t.co/fKkTg6zYB7
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) June 17, 2022
If I were her student, I’d be getting a very clear message about how seriously plagiarism and fabrication is handled. pic.twitter.com/SuCQXWuGrz
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) June 17, 2022
Word of advice: if you’re thinking of signing up for a class taught by Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijaras … don’t.
What is the point of journalism school if you can’t even instill the idea that they shouldn’t make stuff up/shouldn’t steal other peoples writings? https://t.co/TfIGMuuuPp pic.twitter.com/mx4eDnfGrZ
— Carlton Hinds (@methuselaschild) June 17, 2022
Clearly there is no point to journalism school. At least not anymore.
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