WHEN JOURNALISM PLAYS TELEPHONE. Here is the news from Prensa Latina on Norman Finkelstein being let go by DePaul University. According to Prensa Latina, they got their news from Fox News TV. I couldn't find a clip of the video online, but there is the Fox News article to compare against:

US Professor Fired for Criticizing Israel
Washington, Aug 28 (Prensa Latina) The University of DePaul, in the US city of Chicago, fired a professor of political theory for accusing Israel of using the Jewish holocaust to hide its current crimes, the TV channel Fox News reported on Tuesday.[No, what Fox News actually reported was:

DePaul University canceled the one remaining class taught by a controversial professor who has accused some Jews of improperly using the legacy of the Holocaust.

Fox News was describing what Finkelstein is known for--not what he was 'fired for'. Prensa Latina can make assumptions, but shouldn't imply that is what Fox News is saying. More importantly--Finkelstein was not fired, as the Fox News article makes very clear:

Denise Mattson, the university's associate vice president for public affairs, released a statement saying Finkelstein was on administrative leave with full pay for the academic year.

PL is way off-base on that one.]

The administration of the university told Prof. Norman Finkelstein that it would let him go, although he will continue to be on the school's payroll for another year, in compliance with his work contract.

[If Finkelstein is having his contract honored, but not having his contract extended--that is not 'being fired']

However, the administration cancelled Finkelstein's classes and sent emails to the students informing them of its decision. It also instructed to seize all books written by the professor from DePaul's library.

[No, actually Fox News reported:

On Friday, however, the university e-mailed students saying that Finkelstein's sole political science course had been canceled. By Monday, the books for the course had been pulled from the DePaul bookstore's shelves.

Prentsa Latina implies that a number of different classes were canceled--actually at this point he only was teaching one class. Finkelstein was denied tenure in June and this was the remaining class he was teaching. The entire issue of tenure is not mentioned in the PL article. Also--the PL article claims that books written by
Finkelstein were pulled from the shelf: this is clearly not true. It was the books for the class that were pulled, since they were no longer required. The PL version implies something much darker.]

Some critics of the measure accused the university dean of yielding to pressure from external groups, because Prof. Finkelstein's course was very popular and his colleagues backed him up.

[Actually, there is nothing in the Fox News article about the popularity of the class or that this was the reason for his class being canceled. All that the Fox News article said was:

The American Association of University Professors is preparing a letter to the university protesting Finkelstein's treatment as a serious violation of academic ethics, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Also, according to Fox News it is American Association of University Professors. When PL writes that Finkelstein's colleagues back him up, that implies fellow teachers at DePaul. They may very well support him, but the Fox News article makes no mention of it.]

The professor said he planned to go to his office on the first day of classes and if he is arrested for civil disobedience, he will go on a hunger strike to be released, and will repeat his actions until his rights are respected.

Finkelstein, who was born to survivors of the holocaust, said in his latest book that the Israeli government is playing with the people's sentiments to justify violence against Palestinians. He also accused the media of hiding the truth.

[Unlike the Fox News article, the PL article ignores the reason actually given by DePaul for denying Finkelstein tenure and getting into this situation to begin with:

"In the opinion of those opposing tenure, your unprofessional personal attacks divert the conversation away from consideration of ideas, and polarize and simplify conversations that deserve layered and subtle consideration," school President Dennis Holtschneider wrote in a letter dated June 8. DePaul at the time verified the letter was authentic.

In other words, DePaul thought he was a lousy teacher. Instead, PL gives a one-sided piece implying dark intentions. ]

This kind of sloppy reporting has the opposite effect of what journalism is supposed to have--or at least what it used to be. These days, though, error-ridden material like this can get you a 6-hour special on CNN.

Technorati Tag: Norman Finkelstein and DePaul University.