This article in the Atlantic repeats a fundamental error that journalists often fall into when discussing book publishing. Why, they ask, dont book publishers fact-check nonfiction books, just as serious magazine publishers do with articles? The reason is that the book is the speech of the author, not the publisher. A book publisher is the business partner of the author, not the speaker, if you will. By contrast, a magazine or newspaper is legally the speech of the corporation that publishes it; even when writers receive a byline or retain rights, the articles are the voice of the periodical publisher. This answer might not be satisfying for readers frustrated by unreliable books, but its actually very important and useful. It is a byproduct of the authors independence as an economic agent as well as an artist and commentator. We alone are responsible for what we say. When an editor edits, it is to make the book better, not because the publisher is somehow implicated in the speech. Ive been through magazine fact-checking, and can tell you that magazines are very much concerned that articles serve as the companys voice and maintain its reputation. So, no, there is no fact-checking beyond the author, and for good reason. We need to preserve room for the individual—and individual responsibility—in our corporate economy.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 20:07:36 +0000
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