CIA claim: Demand more evidence

Re: “Karen Peterson: Real journalism requires time and truth” (TNT, 11/25).

Two weeks ago, executive editor Karen Peterson compared real journalism to fake news, and explained the difference. To conclude she wrote, “Demand more of all news outlets. At the very least, that we tell the truth.”

I agree wholeheartedly, but I assumed that “we” referred to the entire journalistic enterprise. Not so.

Headline writers missed the mark Sunday. Above the fold on the front page was the headline, “Trump undercuts CIA claim against Russians.” Nothing in the article, however, referred to evidence backing up such a claim. It is certainly true that Mr. Trump disagreed with the CIA, the NSA, and many members of Congress.

Without evidence, a denial is merely a denial and undercuts nothing.

This story was originally published December 13, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "CIA claim: Demand more evidence."