From JIm Metrock: Thanks to the teacher who took time to call Channel One’s Demetrius Pipkin on some sloppy reporting. It’s a relatively minor thing, but it does show Channel One’s lack of attention to details.
Mr. Pipkin tells students that 63% of people in a new poll are “COMPLETELY opposed” to bombing Syria. That’s not true, but it’s close. 63% is the new figure for all those opposed to bombing which includes those who were strongly opposed and those who were opposed but not “strongly opposed.” Mr. Pipkin would probably say, “No big deal,” and I would agree. It does cause one to wonder how many other things Channel One News gets wrong every day. Unfortunately, teachers normally don’t have the time to study the job performance of Channel One’s on-air employees like this teacher did.
You can read the poll results that Mr. Pipkin and Channel One’s producer glanced at without fully understanding the numbers. http://www.people-press.org/2013/09/09/opposition-to-syrian-airstrikes-surges/
Correction made September 11, 2013: Obligation incorrectly said Demetrius Pipkin said, “totally opposed.” He actually said, “completely opposes.” This does not change the fact that he misstated the results of the poll.
