Daily Howler’s take on the Kornblut blunder:
[W]e won’t assume the report is “dishonest.” Though it’s understandably hard for most people to grasp, the national press corps—for all its celebrity—is an extremely unimpressive group of people. Yes, they do misconstrue on this scale, quite routinely; it’s entirely possible that Kornblut just bungled when she produced this groaning report. Indeed, it often seems that people get hired on the press corps’ highest levels only after proving their mediocrity. It often seems, when it comes to our celebrity press, that clear-thinkers need not apply.
As NewMexiKen has said, I’ve never seen a mainstream news report about something I was familiar with that did not have at least some inaccurate statements. (I started to correct this to “I’ve hardly ever,” but decided “never” was right.)
It is not unusual for the mainstream press to report on things on which I am working and I have found it is typical for them to get key or fundamental facts wrong. I too am confident that it would be correct to says that I have never seen a news report about something that I was familiar with that did not have at least some inaccurate statements. The amazing part to me is that what they get wrong are basic things that would be simple to check.