‘Fast and loose’ reporting

Dear editor:

I know you think I’m here to speak on the crime, corruption, or drug problems … we are all aware of that. The problem I’m talking about is “fake news.” That’s right, folks, Hot Springs has a legitimate case of fake news.

They both operate on social media, and rarely get it right. With what happened near Crossgate near where I live, good reporting was important to me and my family. Thank you to The Sentinel-Record for doing proper reporting of what happened and using facts and not a comment section of random people to spread false facts. I’m talking about Arkansas 911 News, of course. Since when does a scanner and car wrapped like a police vehicle make someone a “reporter?” Why are these people allowed to roam around and ambulance chase? What makes it worse is seven hours after the initial report on Facebook the owner of Arkansas 911, made a post saying he slept through the entire incident and didn’t know anything about it! So who made the original post? That caused everyone to freak out and worry about their children at the school and day care? Who was making sure the comments were fact-checked? No one, obviously. This isn’t the first time he’s caused a panic in Hot Springs with fast and loose reporting. Everyone is entitled to freedom of speech, but you still can’t yell fire in a crowded building and get away with it. But he does it again and again.

I remember when you had to go to school and get a degree in journalism. Now you just need scanner equipment a pseudo looking police car and a Facebook page and you’re allowed to report whatever you want without fear of repercussion. I’d like our sheriff and city police to tell him enough is enough.

As far as The Hot Springs Daily goes, we all know it might as well be ran by a Russian troll farm.

Ron Swanson Hot Springs