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维基百科:奥托·米德尔顿,或者说,为什么报纸都很可疑

维基百科,自由的百科全书
這則故事想說什麼?(建議還是先把故事讀完,再回來讀這裡比較好。)
西諺有云:「不要报纸上写什么就信什么[译注 1]」——即使是所謂的可靠媒體亦然。這則故事指出维基百科编者在校對媒体報導时,傾向把有多個來源交叉验证的内容,認為其有「可靠来源」支持的危險。事實上,這個想法並不正確,認清這點在突发重大新闻名流的花边新闻报道方面尤為重要。哪怕是品質良好的英语quality press新聞媒體,其来源可能抄自同行;偷懶的記者甚至會省去查核,直接來個「據報導」、「據指出」後複述故事。有時,新聞記者會輕信某個匿名來源編出的一套說辭、並把官方的「不予置评」或「無可奉告」愚蠢地解讀為默認後,在完全沒有事實查核的情況下,便将报道匆忙发出。再之后,其他媒体會複讀、甚至美化這則無人查核的報導,直到有人要認真這麼做為止。在故事中,只要有誰請了个对米德尔顿稍有了解的人發表置評,大家很快就會發現这只狗并不存在。所以,這則故事想說什麼?就是要留心记者會報導他们一无所知的東西,我们卻將其当作权威的消息来源這事。

據媒體報導,奥托·米德尔顿(英語:Otto Middleton)是劍橋公爵夫人凱薩琳的黑色可卡犬

生平

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奥托與其姐妹埃拉(Ella),是一窝八只小狗的两只。其餘六只名字不詳。克里斯蒂安·赫伯恩·斯科特(Christian Hepburne Scott)以飼養員兼(某种程度的)「月嫂」身份,負責照養這兩只狗狗[1]。据英国皇家饲犬专家称,奥托與埃拉是米德尔顿公爵的家犬,其中奥托為凯瑟琳所有[2]

據媒體報導,奥托為2007年獻給凯瑟琳的聖誕禮物[3]。據友人指出,凯瑟琳给当时男友劍橋公爵威廉王子送了隻黑色的拉布拉多犬,以取代先前威爾斯王妃戴安娜送給他、已經上了年紀的猎犬威警(Widgeon)。威廉王子終於能帶著那隻拉布拉多犬,和(帶著奥托的)凯瑟琳一同溜狗散步了[3]

耳环事件

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指控

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一只狗屋里的可卡犬

2010年3月7日,《每日郵報》报道称奥托不小心吞了威廉王子送给凯瑟琳的古老珍珠耳环後,被送回了养狗场。那對珍珠耳环,是凯瑟琳28岁的生日礼物[4]。《每日电讯报》的皇室记者凯蒂·尼科尔(Katie Nicholl)评论称:

同日的《每日电讯报》称「喜欢」珠宝的凯瑟琳,在發現她床邊的護手霜上出現牙印後大为吃驚。这篇报道援引了在场朋友的说法称:

《每日电讯报》持續跟進报道,称凯瑟琳随后持續觀察奥托的大便、等待耳环出现[4]。《赫芬顿邮报》說凯瑟琳应该“好好檢查狗大便[译注 4][5]”。《紐約每日新聞》報導凯瑟琳被迫每天带奥托出去散步,希望能促其消化、盡快找到耳环[6]甚至有人称皇家警卫應要求在狗大便中寻找耳环[7]。無论如何,这對耳环最后是没法戴了。《每日邮报》引用在场者的话称:「威廉要凯瑟琳不要担心,他会再给她买一对[译注 5][4]」,并称「威廉说奥托没出问题,才是最重要的事。他認為奥托是条乖狗狗、而且相當喜欢它[译注 6][6]。」

之后报道指出,那對耳环价值高达28,000美元[7]、威廉王子還是通过其私人经销商,才买下这对耳环[8]

這不,現在已经滿足核心内容方针中,可供查证方针要求的“多个可靠、公开的来源”吗?可是……

反驳

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3月8日,《每日快報》的皇室通讯员理查德·帕尔默发推文称

同日,“小报观察”博客称克拉伦斯府否认奥托·米德尔顿與其相关报道[10],尽管此前有媒体称克拉伦斯府的发言人拒绝就此事置评:

3月9日,《每日电讯报》修改了先前新闻,称奥托有“铁一般的不在场证明”。同日,克里斯蒂安·赫伯恩·斯科特告知《每日电讯报》奥托实际上在约克郡,她把奥托给了凯瑟琳弟弟英语James William Middleton的友人、而非凯瑟琳。斯科特还说埃拉才是送给凯瑟琳的那隻狗、也没有任何证据证明埃拉吃掉了耳环[1]哈博特尔和刘易斯法律公司英语Harbottle & Lewis的律师、米德尔顿家族的发言人杰勒德·蒂雷尔也否认了报道,同时打趣称“我们为了找这条狗都快要急疯了”[译注 9][12]

每日郵報》随后将整则报道从他们的网页上撤下,并表示:

衛報》批评克拉伦斯府拒绝置评最初报道,称其「本可引導媒體不發表報導,將故事在萌芽期間輕易扼殺。他們幫這點小忙是會死嗎?[译注 11][12]

在《每日电讯报》事件後,其他报纸仍把其最初報導当作事实新闻。3月10日,安·威德康贝英语Ann Widdecombe在《每日快報》的新闻中,指出威廉王子「觉得整个事件很搞笑」,所以没對失去耳环感到难受(found the whole episode hilarious)[13]

一年之后的2011年4月25日,网络記者仍把奥托和耳环报道当作事实引用[14][15]。2011年5月12日,英国公共关系网站PR fire称在凯瑟琳·米德尔顿的婚礼前夕,「宠物专家认为她的黑色可卡犬奥托,会为其挑起凯瑟琳的窘迫回忆而紧张」[译注 12][16]

(后续的)卢波

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2012年2月,《每日电讯报》发表报道,称剑桥公爵夫人最近收到一只小可卡犬[17]。再后来有指出,这只小狗名叫卢波(Lupo),是埃拉的后代。報導还提及先前報導,稱“埃拉的兄弟奥托吃了公爵夫人的耳环,这对耳环是威廉王子在订婚前买的”——但没提及該報導事實錯誤[18]

故事寓意

随着对读者的竞争日益激烈,特别是在互联网要求实时更新消息時,即便是所谓优质的“可靠”新闻来源,也可能变得十分可疑。就如《纽约时报》在2013年12月的文章《如果一个故事如病毒般传播,那么其中的真相可能会受到打击》(If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a Beating)中提到的一般:

换句话说,新闻来源當今瘋傳報導的背景下,倾向于牺牲准确性,以满足快速发布的需求。他们因此相互引用,把相同的内容传来传去,希望你先在他们的网站看到这篇报道。只因為“多个可靠来源”验证了某件事,不代表它就准确。

另见

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译注

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  1. ^ 原文:don't believe everything you read in the papers
  2. ^ 原文:When Prince William bought Kate Middleton a pair of pearl earrings for her 28th birthday, he carefully tracked down the finest and most expensive pair he could find. But now he may be wishing he had not gone to so much trouble – after the precious antiques were eaten by Kate's dog. Otto, her beloved black cocker spaniel, chewed up the jewellery so badly that they were rendered unwearable – much to her consternation.
  3. ^ 原文:It seems that Otto had got into her room and eaten the earrings. He was sitting on the end of the bed looking pleased with himself and licking his paws. Kate was really upset and embarrassed. But when she told William he burst out laughing and said she would have to wait for them to come out the other end.
  4. ^ 原文:search through dog poop
  5. ^ 原文:William told her not to worry and said he would buy her another pair
  6. ^ 原文:He said the main thing was that Otto was okay ... He adores the dog, who's very sweet.
  7. ^ 原文:Kate Middleton doesn't have a dog apparently so is puzzled by claims it ate a pearl earring from Prince William.
  8. ^ 原文:Kate Middleton is a private individual. We don't comment on private individuals.
  9. ^ 原文:We have been searching in vain for the dog.
  10. ^ 原文:We put the story to the Clarence House press office before publication and they didn’t give us any indication it was untrue. We have since been told there were inaccuracies in the story and as a courtesy we have removed it from our website.
  11. ^ 原文:could have easily nipped the story in the bud by steering the paper away from publishing. Would it have killed CH to be a teensy bit helpful on this one?
  12. ^ 原文:pet experts believe her black Cocker Spaniel, Otto, will also be getting the jitters as he picks up on his mistress's own nerve
  13. ^ 原文:In the stepped-up competition for readers, digital news sites are increasingly blurring the line between fact and fiction, and saying that it is all part of doing business in the rough-and-tumble world of online journalism ... editors at these sites acknowledge frankly that there are trade-offs in balancing authenticity with the need to act quickly in a hyperconnected age.

参考文献

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  1. ^ 1.0 1.1 Walker, Tim. The curious incident of Kate Middleton's dog. The Telegraph. 2010-03-12 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2012-07-02). 
  2. ^ Royal Dogs Of The Ages. Global Animal.org. [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2013-06-18). 
  3. ^ 3.0 3.1 Pedigree chums for Wills and Kate. Daily Mail. 2009-01-10 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2016-03-04). 
  4. ^ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Harrison, David. Kate Middleton’s spaniel in the doghouse after eating birthday present from Prince William. The Daily Telegraph. 2010-03-07 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2019-09-29). 
  5. ^ Kate Middleton's Dog Ate Her Birthday Gift, Left Her A 'Present'. Huffington Post. 2008-03-03 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2016-03-10). 
  6. ^ 6.0 6.1 Furse, Jane. Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Prince William, had to search through dog's poo after pearls swallowed. New York Daily News. 2010-03-08 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2010-03-11). 
  7. ^ 7.0 7.1 Moylan, Brian. Why George Clooney Was Mean At The Oscars, And Other Mysteries. The Defamer英语The Defamer. 2010-03-09. 
  8. ^ Celeste, Rigel. Kate Middleton's Dog Swallows Expensive Gift from Prince William. Luxist. 2010-03-11 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2013-05-17). 
  9. ^ @RoyalReporter Richard Palmer. Kate Middleton doesn't hav .... Twitter. 2010-03-08 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2016-06-11). 
  10. ^ MacGuffin. Not front pages news (cont.) or how an imaginary dog can't eat an earring. 2010-03-08 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2021-04-28). 
  11. ^ Palace tight-lipped over earrings eaten by Kate Middleton's dog. Earth Times英语Earth Times. 2010-03-09 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2021-04-22). 
  12. ^ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Brook, Stephen. Kate Middleton, the Mail on Sunday, a dog with a pearl earring and a right royal mess. The Guardian. 2010-03-16 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2010-03-23). 
  13. ^ Widdecombe, Ann. William's a pearl among princes. Daily Express. 2010-03-10 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2012-10-07). 
  14. ^ Spillman, Susan. William and Kate's Royal Romance: Is It Puppy Love?. Encino Patch. 2011-04-25 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2012-09-17). 
  15. ^ Giuseppe, Rufus. Lucky for Kate and Prince William, royal wedding goes to the dawgs. theday.com. 2011-04-28 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2021-04-28). 
  16. ^ Higgins, Danielle. Royal Bride's Dog Otto Will Be Stressed Too!. PRfire.co.uk. 2011-05-12. 
  17. ^ Orr, James. Cocker Spaniel puppy for Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William. The Telegraph. 2012-02-01 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2021-05-05). 
  18. ^ Rayner, Gordon. Duchess of Cambridge reveals new puppy is named Lupo. The Telegraph. 2012-02-21 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2021-03-03). 
  19. ^ Somaiya, Ravi; Kaufman, Leslie. If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a Beating. The New York Times. 2013-12-09 [2021-04-22]. (原始内容存档于2020-10-14).