The controversy also renews questions about whether the media are more vulnerable to being manipulated by partisans seeking to influence the presidential campaign.
"Everything just goes so much faster" in the age of the Internet and cable news networks, says Charlotte Grimes, professor of political reporting at Syracuse University. "It's very hard for the media to find a firm place to stand and sort facts from reality."
Oh cry me a river. CBS had plenty of time to determine the authenticity of those memos. It took them at least two weeks to get the whole story together, they could have easily had a document examiner take a look at the memos during that time.
If CBS and other big-media types can't hack it in today's era of fast-breaking news then maybe they'd better get out of the game.
The last few paragraphs of the article were heartening, however.
While she strongly defended CBS' reporting Sunday, Genelius would not directly answer one question about the 60 Minutes story.
Asked twice whether the network contacted Killian's family before the 60 Minutes broadcast, Genelius would only say "we talked to many people" about the documents. Both Killian's son and his widow have since said they don't think he wrote the memos.
The network did not address the controversy on Sunday's editions of the CBS Evening News or 60 Minutes.
This is the type of reporting that is needed right now. The USA Today and other media need to keep the pressure on CBS if we're ever going to get any answers.