By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- When Reuters says it “got a statement Tuesday,” what does it mean?
Does it only mean they got a mechanical reiteration of something said to another media three full days before? And if Reuters lies about this, how trustworthy can it be to the high frequency stock traders who alone keep it afloat?
Earlier today Inner City Press zeroed in on a report by Reuters' Michelle Nichols, who took an answer at the UN to Inner City Press' questions about the 126 rapes in Minova by the Congolese Army and tried to turn it into a Reuters story.
UN envoy Zainab Bangura told Inner City Press that the UN, as its stated policy would require, has suspended support to two Congolese Army units involved in the rapes, despite an answer to Inner City Press on Friday that support continued.
Immediately after Bangura's answer to Inner City Press, it put the question to UN Peacekeeping.
But then it was Reuters' Michelle Nichols who reported, Tuesday afternoon:
“The United Nations said in a statement on Tuesday it was still supporting the two battalions 'in view of a number of recent and appropriate actions being taken by the authorities.'”
Inner City Press asked the UN, how could you give Reuters a “statement” without answering Inner City Press' earlier question on the same topic?
To which UN Peacekeeping spokesman Kieran Dwer replied that no statement had been given to Reuters, only a re-send of Friday's noon briefing answer to Inner City Press.
"From: Kieran Dwyer [at] un.org
Date: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 6:17 PM
To: matthew.lee [at] innercitypress.com
Dear Matthew, On your question about a DPKO "statement", as it was referred to in the Reuters story this afternoon. No "statement" was issued. A reporter called our office and we reiterated the information delivered at Friday's noon briefing."
Date: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 6:17 PM
To: matthew.lee [at] innercitypress.com
Dear Matthew, On your question about a DPKO "statement", as it was referred to in the Reuters story this afternoon. No "statement" was issued. A reporter called our office and we reiterated the information delivered at Friday's noon briefing."
So how can Reuters portray this as a UN “statement on Tuesday”? This is a fraud. Not only in the (mis) use of the word statement, but in presenting three day old news as new. Do they do this in finance too?
And if they do it on this, just to try to beat out a media Nichols and UN bureau chief Louis Charbonneau have tried to get thrown out of the UN for at least a year now, including by Charbonneau threatening that if Inner City Press is not thrown out, he will leave, what is Reuters doing on other stories?
Since June 2012 the question has been put to Reuters big wigs Steve Adler, Greg McCune and even the social media editor. But nothing.Watch this site.
