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Comment by JumpCrisscross | Hacker News Reader

> The self-described journalist who specializes in student-loan debt has been quoted in major news outlets, including The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and CNBC

Curious to hear how this got past their vetting processes.

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As someone who has been quoted by major news outlets in what's likely a similar fashion - adding color to the story rather than reporting news - there is rarely "vetting" and the fact checking that occurs is merely confirming that what the journalist wrote matched what I said. They don't try to find additional sources to corroborate the story.

So the fact checking focused on the surveys conducted, the methodology, etc - not whether Drew Cloud was a real person.

(Also, I'm a real person so it's possible they do this type of vetting and I never experienced it because... well, I'm real)

This has been my experience as well. Most of the writers are either under so much pressure to pump out articles they just simply don't have time to fully vet every source OR they're a contractor and don't care to seriously vet the source.

Some are found through here and are not vetted much: https://www.helpareporter.com

1. There's obviously a large difference between the front page of the Post or Globe and some knock-on blog they run in the Home section of the website.

2. Curious to hear how this is even slightly relevant to the issue.

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