Where can one in the journalistic field enjoy the greatest degree of job security ? Why, Rolling Stone magazine of course.   And not only can one feel safe and comfy about maintaining one’s job,  but can also rely on their employer to cover your reputation from even your most egregious errors.  Wow, sign me up !

The magazine finally retracted its piece regarding an alleged gang rape at one of U.Va’s fraternities when an independent study by the Columbia University School of Journalism found serious flaws in the concoction of the story, and the Charlottesvile, VA police found no substanitive basis to support the  article’s depicted assault.  But instead of a full and honest apology, famed publisher of Rolling Stone, Jann Wenner,  suggested that the piece represented an isolated and unusual episode, and that the writer of the piece, Sabrina Erdely, would continue to write for the magazine.   Mr. Wenner went on to attribute the primary blame on the source of the article (Jackie), whom he called “a really expert fabulist storyteller” who managed to manipulate the magazine’s journalism process.  Oops, forgot to add that Mr. Wenner gave free passes also to the magazine’s managing editor (Will Dana ) and the editor of the article (Sean Woods).    How’s that for job security ?   And how many of us have bosses that would go that far out on a limb for us ?   WHAT THE HECK ! 

To me, the sorriest epilogue to this story comes straight from the horse’s mouth, the writer of the hoax Sabrina Erdely, who in exchange for keeping her job (my conclusion), profusely apologized to Rolling Stone’s readers, her colleagues, and “any victims of sexual assault who may feel fearful as a result of my article”.   How about the other victims whose reputations you have smeared, Ms. Erdely – the University of Virginia and its alumni, its President Teresa Sullivan, the fraternity in question on the grounds of U.Va., and the Greek system in general ?