Whatever happened to the automotive writers?

[Ghoste]

Is it just me or are most of the magazines written by freelancers who do quickie reasearch if they do it all before writing their articles as facts.  This particular rant was started by Musclecar Review running a photo of a Monte Carlo Laguna S3, which is wrong.  There was a Chevelle Laguna but no Monte Carlo.  Some of the GM fans I know are a little pissed about it.  I'm glad to see that it doesn't just happen to Mopar fans but I am more than a little dissapointed that all of the musclecar magazines (Hemmings have made me shake my head in disgust many times) seem to so easily publish bad information.  I understand that typos can happen all the time and also that no one can know everything.  Just look at how long we can debate here what is correct or incorrect.  I'm not ranting about the little mistakes though, I mean the big ones that happen too much.
Was it always like this and I'm just being stupid about it or has it really changed to writers who don't know or care?

[bull]

At least the facts and contact info in the ads is correct. That's what really matters to them.

[jb666]

It's a sign of the times..  I know it's not just "magazine" writers you're referring to here, but soon (in our lifetime) I think you'll see nothing on a shelf in a store.. If you want to read an article you'll be doing it online... And there will be less and less editing time so these things will happen...

[Ghoste]

You make an interesting point.  It still seems like there are plenty enough car guys who can write and are more than happy to go out into the real world and do some digging so they write with accuracy.

[jb666]

Definitely! I'd read a "tech article" written by a forum member HERE before I'd take anything one of the "motor trend" writers has to say...

[Alaskan_TA]

MCG mentioned me in an article & the information was wrong, actual lies.

Fact checking is sorely lacking, all they had to do was call or email me before going to print.  

[skip68]

There's nothing to write about anymore...

[Ghoste]

If there's nothing left to write about then mistakes should never happen.

[mauve66]

they make sure they get the correct car when reporting on lindsey lohans latest drunk driving charge

[ITSA426]

C'mon guys does anybody buy car magazines for the great journalism?

[bakerhillpins]

You make an interesting point.  It still seems like there are plenty enough car guys who can write and are more than happy to go out into the real world and do some digging so they write with accuracy.

The only digging that happens anymore is a cursory internet search, and beyond that nada. Besides, everyone knows if they found it on the net then it's true.   

With the advent of the net everyone has become a journalist, er blogger. So why pay anyone to write a good article based in reality when that doesn't generate any AD revenue? Make outlandish claims, go "viral" and get lots of clicks. Paying a salary for good content is difficult in a medium that was created around the premise of being "free". I was listening to a business report the other day talking about the changes in the publishing industry as a result of the net... the biggest problem is that "fee for content" and/or online subscription models apparently drive net-goers away from sites in hordes.

The internet is a self sustaining cesspool, the same crap gets pumped around so much it just about kills any/all of the bright spots.

[Ghoste]

I can believe all of that.  I suppose with the good things the internet has brought there has to be an opposite reaction huh?

[tricky lugnuts]

Most of the car magazines probably are written by freelancers these days, especially with the magazine industry in the tanks just as bad as the newspaper and TV industries.

But those same magazines should have full-time staff editors doing their job . . .

And if they're not catching obvious mistakes in copy sent in by their freelance writers - i.e. writers referring to a Ford Volt or Plymouth Camaro, or in this case a nonexistent Monte Carlo Laguna - then they're equally guilty of not doing their job.

So, where do you put the blame?

I put it with 1. the reporter, the front line of defense, for getting something wrong, 2. the editor and copy editors, the safety net, for not catching it, and 3. if enough mistakes are made on a regular basis, the managing editor and publisher, the big dogs who are really ultimately in charge of things, for not making sure that their employees are doing their job properly and putting out quality, professional product.

Potentially, I also put some blame with 4. the readers, especially paid subscribers, for not raising unholy hell and making sure their magazine runs a fully visible, accurate correction each and every time it screws something up, no matter how small.

Granted, magazines and newspapers, TV shows and even some blogs are supposed to be professional purveyors of accurate, historical-record level information, but I've always seen it as something of a two-way street.

If readers want to complain about everything always being wrong, and writers for their favorite publications being uninformed hacks, then they need to stand up and make sure those people know whenever they get something, anything wrong.

Send the magazine an email to let them know they screwed up. Call. Write a letter to the editor.

A newsroom should be set up with checks and balances. Sometimes those systems are in disrepair, as appears to be the case from your description of the car magazines. Yes, staffing cuts can have a big impact, a revolving door for employees can, too.

So can sheer laziness. And the absolute last line of checks and balances in the publishing world are informed readers.

But the bottom line is that people in the publishing industry are humans, too, perfectly capable of making their fair share - if not more than their fair share - of downright stupid mistakes.

And a mistake never really shines quite like it does once its published and out there in print for the whole wide world to see.

I'm sure it depends to an extent on the magazine, but I haven't really noticed it getting any worse in the last 10 years.

There are some magazines I've read for a long time without seeing a single spelling or grammatical mistake that I can recall now - Harpers Magazine, National Geographic.

They use a lot of freelance writers, too - albeit maybe of a higher caliber than Mopar Collectors Guide.

I spend most of my time reading newspapers and online news, so that's the only perspective that I'm really familiar with.

But man, oh man, some of the things that even big newspapers - USA Today and the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal - mess up is really amazing!

It's a daily adventure for many in the publishing world, as well as for their readers:

http://www.regrettheerror.com/

And don't think they don't screw up the ads. My fiance is a graphic designer - I know better! 

[RallyeMike]

The only digging that happens anymore is a cursory internet search, and beyond that nada. Besides, everyone knows if they found it on the net then it's true.  2thumbs  slap

With the advent of the net everyone has become a journalist, er blogger. So why pay anyone to write a good article based in reality when that doesn't generate any AD revenue? Make outlandish claims, go "viral" and get lots of clicks. Paying a salary for good content is difficult in a medium that was created around the premise of being "free". I was listening to a business report the other day talking about the changes in the publishing industry as a result of the net... the biggest problem is that "fee for content" and/or online subscription models apparently drive net-goers away from sites in hordes.

The internet is a self sustaining cesspool, the same crap gets pumped around so much it just about kills any/all of the bright spots.

You have hit the nail squarely on the head. There are still responsible, professional journalist out there, however there numbers will likely continue to be fewer and fewer. It's a disturbing trend.

To the original question - I have copies of old print that also indicates a lack of research/editing. I don't think it's anything new, just getting worse.