The Closest You’re Going To Get On An Apology For Russiagate

In 2004, The New York Times ran an article admitting their reporting on the subject of weapons of mass destruction was wrong. According to their editorial staff, “We wish we had been more aggressive in re-examining the claims as new evidence emerged — or failed to emerge.” They admitted to failures on multiple accounts and described levels of reporting that were miles away from the standards that they profess to uphold.

The New York Times and many other publications failed at their duty. They play a crucial role in shaping national opinion, and their inability or unwillingness to follow basic rules of journalism helped lead the United States and its Coalition Of The Willing into a war that killed three hundred thousand people, injured many more, and destroyed critical infrastructure that has not been fully repaired to this day.

Oops.

The New York Times then said they were sorry and promised to do better the next time.

I have seen no evidence in the nearly 20 years since that they have learned their lesson and reported on crucial issues with a more critical eye. In fact, in hindsight the reporting they engaged in during the leadup to the Iraq War was not an anomaly but an indicator of worse things to come.