The Benefit Of The Doubt

A most thought provoking, intelligent & well written piece by Cassandra of Villainous Company

"Michael Yon & The Benefit Of The Doubt"

(...)Michael Yon is purportedly a professional journalist. As such, shouldn't he be held to some elementary standards of professionalism? But more importantly, how much sense does it make to extend the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Yon for what amounts to unsourced and unsupported allegations of criminal misconduct against a career soldier?

Is this where the bar should be set for professional journalists? Do they have no responsibility to back up such a serious charge with evidence? (...)

(...) It's not that leaders like BG Menard and Gen. McChrystal can't be questioned. But I think that the standard for a professional journalist ought to be responsible criticism. And I question the assumption that an embedded reporter who isn't privy to all of the intel and military briefings and has never had to make life and death decisions in a complex, multinational command environment in a war zone should be given the benefit of the doubt when he repeatedly sources accusations of incompetence and criminal neglect or misconduct in nothing more compelling than his personal opinion. (...)