[Pounds head on keyboard] There's a new crop of experts opining to the press about everything from sovereign citizens to the Oath Keepers and they have no idea what they're talking about. [/Pounds head on keyboard]
And while I'm bitching aloud, reporters shopping for academic/experts to find one that will cater to the reporter's preconceived notion of what a story should be about yields slanted/erroneous coverage.
And because so many academics see their work as a form of political activism, it's really easy to find ones who are happy to get the press attention.
@jjmacnab Here on CoSo or some other platform?
@mikeharmanos Bird site and, more importantly, in the national and international press.
@jjmacnab As it's the bird site, could this traffic actually be sourced from disinfo troll farms or Internet Research Agency?
(btw, I'm a GW undergrad, and I respect your work!)
@jjmacnab Nice skill, being able to type all that out with your head. :-P
@NoahPaulLeGies Years of practice.
@jjmacnab If only they could find an expert who's been covering this extensively for years... if only...
Parallel problem: A reporter writes one or two stories on an extremist group and no longer contacts experts for input because the reporter now considers himself/herself as knowledgeable as any expert.