Speaking of Selective Editing...

I had a letter published in the paper today. Here's the original letter I sent:

I am deeply disappointed that The Blade, along with just about every other major media outlet, was so easily duped by the 11 minutes of video footage of NPR executive Ron Schiller posted to a conservative blog by James O'Keefe ("NPR all at Sea", March 13th)
A careful analysis of the nearly 2-hour-long full video (posted by O'Keefe specifically for that purpose) by NPR, with the aid of professional video and audio analysts, as well as by the editor of the conservative website TheBlaze.com, reveals that the 11 minutes of footage O'Keefe released originally was heavily edited and presented out of sequence. It was designed to portray Schiller--and, by extension, NPR, in the worst possible light. And it succeeded, apparently. Schiller, and his boss, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller (no relation), were almost immediately fired. And Republicans in congress seized on it as further proof of the need to strip NPR of all government funding.
I realize that in this day and age, the rush to get the story first can sometimes overwhelm sound judgment, but, given O'Keefe's past record and activities, perhaps a little more caution was called for.

Here's what was published:

The Blade, along with just about every other major media outlet, was duped by the 11 minutes of video footage of NPR executive Ron Schiller posted on a conservative blog by James O'Keefe ("NPR all at sea," editorial, March 13).
Analysis of the almost two-hour-long video showed that the footage Mr. O'Keefe originally released was heavily edited and presented out of sequence. It was designed to portray Mr. Schiller -- and NPR -- in the worst possible light. And it succeeded.
Mr. Schiller, and his boss, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller, resigned. Republicans in Congress seized on the video as further proof of the need to strip NPR of all government funding.
I realize that the rush to get the story first can sometimes overwhelm sound judgment, but given Mr. O'Keefe's past record, perhaps a little more caution was called for.

Selective editing? You be the judge.