In her story today on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, WSJ reporter Ana Campoy makes a common mistake that deprives readers of needed context and detail.
In writing about the so-called “grassy knoll” area in Dealey Plaza in Dallas Texas where President John F. Kennedy was killed 50 years ago, Campoy wrote:
“Some conspiracy theorists believe a second shooter fired at Mr. Kennedy from a patch of grass in the plaza.”
This is sketchy and under-reported. It would be more factual and precise to write:
“Between a third and a half of all eyewitnesses said they heard a gunshot fired at Mr. Kennedy from the area around a fence overlooking a patch of grass in the plaza.”
For more information:
Mary Ferrell Foundation on Dealey Plaza witnesses.
Professor John McAdams on how to sort out the competing claims.
Was she under pressure to write the story the way she did?