Editing inaccuracy is cumulative. We have seen how an error at one
editing stage may be compounded at later stages. Quantifying inaccuracies
for the New Zealand agencies/stations shows that the PA agency averaged
2.1 per story on the 0-6 inaccuracy scale. Radio station XA scored 0.9. If we
add the two scores, we have an inaccuracy index of 3.0 for these two
successive editing steps within New Zealand. To put this in perspective,
recall that New Zealand hears its international news only after it has passed
through 3-5 editing filters. If the earlier steps are no more nor less accurate
than the last two, the average international news item broadcast on New
Zealand radio may contain the equivalent of one very serious inaccuracy as a
result of copy editing alone, quite apart from the reliability of the original
report. If some wires are any indication, a few stories will contain as many
as three or four major editing errors. My findings on editing inaccuracy lend
support to the criticisms the South has made. The results are more specific
and persuasive than much of the evidence available on news proportions,
selection, etc. News about the South has been distorted during editing,
however 'unintentionally.