I find that our country is failing its self based on the efforts of our goverment also it citizen.
I believe that someday americans will wake up and relize that rights given to us by free men and women that fought for these privaledges. our laws our out of touch with reality, we have truly lost our way.
It never seems to amaze me when i here of cituations
such as our boarders. when our soldiers are confrunted by armed forieners that they are told to stand down. are our leaders out of there minds, or are they making money off of the drugs, cheap labor and what ever else they can. I find it very hipacriticle that mexican drug dealer can escape justice, and the people charged with keeping our borders secure are sentanced, based on the words of a drug smuggler, and american citizens will be locked up for a fue grams of marijauna or what else forieners are alowed to traffic into our country.
bottum line there is a skunk in the chicken house, and it is all the chickens fault. one more thing
its hard to believe that our yuong men and women are over sea fighting for this corruption, we call justice. I hope someday we can staighten out this mess,and get back to what my family menbers have fouhgt for in many wars. mt grandfather told me before he passed away that the communist had infaltrated our goverment. at first i didn't understand now I do, someday as history has shown
americans will standup and take our country back and the people that get richer off the backs poor americans will someday be pointed out and shamed.

Although my local newspaper is not known as a bastion of journalistic excellence, I wanted to share with all of you reading this, that there is some integrity left in journalism. The Orlando Sentinel did not "go to bed" till 2:35am Thursday morning due to the late finish of the Orange Bowl. At that time, the miners were all thought to be alive, so the front page story reflected that headline. Friday's newspaper included a front page note to readers detailing the reportters' timeline in reporting the story and apologizing for the inaccurate reports. Kudos to the Sentinel and the publisher for owning up to tragic inaccuracies-- a breath of fresh air in this time of public figures and politicians doing everything they can not to own up and take responsibility for their mistakes!

Honestly NBC News. Own up to your responsibilities as editors. It's easy. Don't report unsubstantiated information. Ban on-air speculation. Demand attribution. Refuse to report rumor. Instead, say, 'We don't know. When we do know, for sure, we'll tell you." Do your job. Honestly (sigh).

For those of you are asking 'how is this the media's fault' and are appalled that the majority of the comments are critical of the media, I think you misunderstand.

Nobody is claiming the mining disaster is the fault of the media; the issue is the _reporting_ of that disaster. Who should be responsible for that reporting if not the reporters (and here I include those Mr. Williams terms 'civilians,' who passed on bad information)?
Personally, I am, or was, willing enough to accept that the mistaken reports were just the result of a series of unfortunate and heartbreaking compounded errors that really cannot be blamed on anybody.

HOwever, it would seem Brian Williams doesn't agree. When a media representative says with a straight face, In the light of day, media types and civilians alike were asking a question last asked during Katrina: Weren't they (officials) WATCHING the coverage on television?

I have to ask if he watches his own coverage. During Katrina the media got almost nothing right. So I sincerely hope the officials were not watching television. I hope they were busy doing their jobs.

It was MSNBC, in fact, which aired a report featuring MSNBC's Tony Zumbado claiming to have seen bodies stacked around the convention hall, bodies in the street, to have actually witnessed seeing two deaths right before his eyes, and then recounted four other specific deaths, bringing the total he claimed to know of personally up to six specific deaths plus those 'bodies around the walls.' The last I heard, there were only four deaths, which is tragic enough, had we not be misled by MSNBC in the first place. That report is still online here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9160710/
There is no correction on that page.

Given the absolutely dreadful coverage of Katrina by the media (is there anything they got right?), it is absolutely stunning to me that Brian Williams could mention Katrina in the same sentence that he demands in such accusatory tones, "Weren't they WATCHING' the coverage on television?" Why on earth would they?
It was also that demand, IMO, that made the media coverage the issue most responders wished to reply to. Mr. Williams is the one who implied criticism of the officials specifically for not watching the media coverage, bringing Katrina up as some sort of standard in coverage- and people are responding to that.

We all wanted a miricle. We wanted to prove God exists and hears our prayers. The Tsumani, Rita, Katrina, the fires, the landslides ... we wanted to prove that in a church loving town, God heard our prayers. Now our real faith is needed.

While we may never know exactly who passed on the eroneous information, I can say from experience that in situations like this, people hear what they want to hear. In this age of scanners, anyone could have picked up that first transmission. There were all kinds of local emergency personnel who could have heard it and could not resist the urge to get out their cell phone and call one person. I am sure there was quite a phone chain once the first call was made. Yes, the company should have contacted the families as soon as they knew that the first information was not accurate. I am sure all companies, emergency agencies, etc., world wide, will be discussing what happened here for a long time, and hopefully will be more cautious with their communication in the future. In a perfect world, the mis-information never would have happened, but in a perfect world, the explosion wouldn't have happened either. The story should have been the tragedy of the miners lost and the one who survivied. I do blame the media for their head-hunting tactics once the truth was announced officially. Perhaps the media was as upset as the families and were taking it out on those they interviewed. We will never know the true answer to that question either.

Brian, please tell the NBC reporters in West Virgina, to tell all of the families in that church, that all of us in Las Vegas and the whole nation, are praying for them...

Dear Brian,

Many of the bloggers are pointing fingers at the media, but the media didn't created the false information. False information was given to the media by sources who were in a position to know the facts. These sources should have been more careful, especially given the sensitive nature of the story.

Mike Smith
Las Vegas Sun

What happened to those men and those families is heart breaking. I'm sure that mine will not be the only prayers for them tonight.

But do not understand your comment about Katrina and officials watching television. If anything, the media's coverage of Katrina showed just how pointless it can be to try to get the facts from TV. The police there wasted resources on non-existent crimes the media reported. Time was wasted dealing with toxic waste that didn't exist and death tolls were inflated by an order of magnitude over the real and still very painful totals.

I'm sorry, but this is another example of the media putting speed above accuracy and not serving the public.

So, the media should report whatever rumor is floating about as news, and if it's not corrected immediately, it's the fault of the officials in charge, despite what larger responsibilities they have? Way to dodge any responsibility!

That's the way the tabloid press works... if the major news organizations are operating like the National Enquirer, maybe I should look elsewhere.

Too often the media is blamed for mistakes. We want to use the media for our own personal needs and then, when they fail us, we want to bash them. But the media did not fail us here. This was not the fault of the media, but the fault of the company itself. It was not the media's responsiblity to correct this mistake, because they did not make it. The company made that mistake therefore they should have corrected it. For them to wait that long to tell the media what they were reporting is deplorable. The job of the reporter is to report what is happening. They did so. Can we blame them that they did not say: "No company officials have confirmed this yet?" Maybe. But consider the hour. Consider the circumstances. These men and women of the media are humans not robots as they are portrayed to be. They hurt too and what a crushing blow it must have been to them to hear that what they had reported was wrong. I wish more people would think of that.

My husband and I were talking about the terrible news today and the horror of jubilation turned to sorrow. In looking at the erroneous headlines in papers across the country, I was reminded of the day after Katrina, when the media reported that New Orleans "dodged a bullet." Then my husband brought up an even older case, the early reports on the Titanic. Some newspapers reported early on that the Titanic was being towed in and everyone was saved. It seems the errors made last night have little to do with our fast-paced technology, but the age-old human desire to hear good news and spread good news. The intentions are the best, but when you're wrong, the results are cruel. Obviously the mining company and the media made mistakes. Word-of-mouth news in a small town was transmitted across the nation, with no filters and not enough thought. Sleeplessness probably made for poor judgment all around. However you analyze it, in the end you are still left with the anguish of the miners' families. It won't be forgotten soon.

Just another example of irresponsible "journalism" and the feeding frenzy we have come to expect over the past years. And it's always the innocent victims and their relatives who have to suffer. Frankly, I'm sick & tired of the news media beating stories to death (remember Whitewater? That was well researched, too, eh?) and I hope this mine disaster teaches them a lesson. Somehow I doubt it, though.

Brian:
Tell me please, that the lesson learned here is restraint in trying to outdo one another in a jam packed race to be the first and best. We as viewers want it to be done right. Families deserve it be done right. The world demands it be done right. Tell me that the NBC networks will lead the way to ensure that it's done right from this moment forward. God bless these families...

Regarding the press, I feel they simply wanted to report good news; they are humans after all, right? Objective or not, they were hopeful for better turnout for these men and their families. Should they have waited for an official announcement? Maybe. Could any of us have waited to report such wonderful news? I doubt it. It's a hard, terrible lesson for us all and it's also wasted energy. The focus should be on mine safety and improving conditions in them. As someone who grew up in Southeastern Kentucky, full of sweet and wonderful folks, beautiful mountains, and coal mines, I watched in deep sadness as the news unfolded about these poor men and their families. I was 9 years old when Scotia (pronounced "Sko-shuh") Coal Mine in Letcher County, KY, had several explosions and many men (26) were lost. A dear, sweet boy in my fourth grade class lost his father. This affects everyone because coal kept our community alive, financially and emotionally. My prayers go out to those people who have lost loved ones and to the members of the community.

the media is a powerful tool...last nite there was a huge mistake made...but more then one. but use the power of the media to find out if these mines are operating safely and what may done to make them safer for the miners. God bless those miners and their families.

To err is human. Therefore, we ought to set aside the immature charade of pointing fingers and truly celebrate the lives of these twelve unsuspecting miners who tragically lost their lives as we embark upon a new year. Even in death, life has always been celebrated and this incredibly unfortunate event should be no different nor should it be overshadow with such a dispiciable display of anger and contempt for those in authority. The death of these brave men is absolutely horrific. I can only hope and pray this tragedy will be used as an avenue to explore the real dangers, in a world so silent until now, that goes unnoticed all the while putting so many at risk....so many who willingly sacrifice their lives in an attempt to strive for a better future for their loved ones. May God's grace and peace be with these grieving families. And finally, thank you Mr. Williams, for being the epitome of what magnificient journalism ought to be. You have captured the mere essence of what true professionalism embodies. Our World is in dire need of more like you.

Mistakes happen and sometimes they have horrible consequences. This was a huge mistake with huge consequences. Let's move forward from this, and give respect to the coalmining community, the rescue crews, and yes, the media. This will at least aid the healing process.

Brian,
First, my prayers go out to all the families who have suffered through this horrific ordeal. I would like to add something to the conversation about the media coverage. Quite a few people are pointing the blame at TV reporters -- many of whom were filming LIVE on location when the church bells started ringing and people started cheering. As good journalists do, they kept filming and recording history in the making -- tragically, a very sad day in the history of that community. They continued filming what family members and other residents told them. I would've liked to have seen the news networks, however, remind viewers that despite what the families were announcing, that such news had not been confirmed or verified to the media by any representative from the mining company.

I believe no matter who said what to begin the gossip...every news agency ended the night with egg on their faces. I watched it live and it all looked like something that the Maury Povich Show left on the cutting room floor.
I simply do not understand why the families were not separated from the general public and in constant contact with all 3 "agencies" representing the trapped miners. The media should have all been in one building with limited access at appropriate times. Instead, everyone just seemed to be roaming around at will with no real organization.
Note that almost none of the families wanted to speak with the media so they were left with asking random little girls "You look upset...what's wrong?" (paraphrasing Anderson Cooper) What's wrong with this picture people?
I don't blame the media for the mine collapsing, I don't blame them for the initial miscommunication...but seriously, does the word "responsible" come in contact with the word "journalism" anymore?
We should all rejoice in Mr.McCoy's survival, pray for his eventual recovery and send our most heartfelt condolences to all the family members whose hearts were broken over and over again this week.
Their death is the tragedy.

Brian:
The media was so interested in being the first to report, they forgot the basic concept of reporting--confirm the story first!! The media needs to be more responsible before something like this happens again!!!

It is a shame. Very sad for the family's. Were was the PIO (Public Information Officer) when all of this was going down. But we should at least say that one did make it out so far and I pray that the this family can cope.

What we saw in West Virginia was not edited reporting but the raw data coming from the mouth of the mine and from the mouths of the citizens of Sago. There was little or no chance to check facts, no press conference. It is true that cable TV could have urged caution, could have waited until the miners appeared. But all of us watching were on the same footing as the media, had the same real time information, and wanted the miracle to happen. Now our hearts bleed for the bereaved.

Ironically last night, Brian, after watching TV
coverage of the attempts to save the miners, I popped in an old videocassette. It was NBC's coverage of the first 4 hours of the assassination of President John Kennedy. There, on my screen, was the late Chet Huntley and Frank McGee. No doubt they were covering a horrible tragedy of great magnitude.
What struck me was that about every few minutes, I heard Huntley, McGee and Bill Ryan stating, "This is no time for speculation. Facts are all that are warrented. Here is what we know." This is what was lacking from some, not all certainly, but some of the TV coverage of the rescue attempt last night.

The media had the report that the miners were safe from all sources...except the only one that mattered.
The mining company's official word. Instead, they relied on the word of family members who were reporting supposed "inside" information. And, then, some networks (not all) played on the jubilation of family members waiting for a storybook ending that, sadly, never arrived.

What would Huntley and McGee have said about that?

I watched the news unfold last night on MSNBC. Yes the coverage was about the "miracle". However, Bob Hager,news correspondent on the scene, was asked to comment about the news, and he stated something to the effect that he was clearly suprised and wondered why two hours after the news broke, there hadn't been any oficial word. At that time I thought he was being too cautious but then I also questioned why no Company spokesman had been heard from. Emotions run high and sometimes people only hear what they want to. Sad but true. There was a miracle last night only it wasn't quie as "Big". May GOD bless all the miners and their families.

We Americans are losing our sanity. The journalistic sensationalism that surrounded this story was nothingmore than tabloid journalism. The media hanging around that church like vultures caused many of the problems. Everybody became a celebrity. One man was already confirmed dead, the utmost caution and restraint should have been used by all involved.

This event has sadden all of us somehow and in someway. What's even sadder is that we're now only talking about who should be held responsible(in the communication relay), instead of tending to the needs of the families of the deceased and praying for the lone survivor. What happened in the mis-communicaton wasn't something that was done maliciously or with bad intent - it was just an honest mistake along with anticipation of something that we were all hoping to eventually hear. Let's redirect our focus immediately to the families and the surviving Mr McLoy, then to the safety and operational issues of mines that cause tragic events like this to happen.

My heart goes out to the families who have suffered so much in this tragedy, they are in my thoughts and prayers. As horrible as this is, I don't think anyone can point a finger as to who's fault this miscommunication was. Everyone wanted to see them alive and a happy ending to this event. What's done is done and nothing can bring those men back. The only thing that should be done is to be thankful for the one who did survive and to investigate the cause of this accident. I understand the families' anger, they have every right to be, but if they are going to be quick to point fingers, they should look at themselves as well for not confirming their information before reacting.

The MEDIA got lost in the fog of war. Always discount first reports they are almost always wrong.

I cannot believe that intelligent people could blame the media for what was broadcast last night. The media was doing there job--reporting what they were told. It seems to me that all the reporters were caught up in the story, everyone wanted those men to be alive.The fault lies with the company that allowed the information to be leaked, and then had the audacity to wait 3 hours to say, sorry we made a mistake. Watching Mr. Hatfield at his press conference this afternoon, I felt like he presented a timeline that would cover his butt. I don't care that this company only owned the mine a month, I am sure they knew of the previous violations, and the violations that were received in December.THESE MEN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THAT MINE IN THE FIRST PLACE!Then no one would have to explain to these families why their loved ones are dead. Instead of pointing fingers, everyone needs to make a loud enough cry to make sure violations are fixed, lives are kept safe and the most important thing is not the almighty dollar.

I don't believe this is anyone in particular's fault. The fact that no one even knew where this 'good news' started should tell us something. I believe everyone was just so exhausted and hanging on to the slightest shred of hope that it got away from everyone. We have to remember that the most important thing here are the men that lost their lives and the lone survivor. God bless all of them and their families. Pray for them and pray that this doesn't happen again.

I blame the media representatives on site for not checking their facts before putting the information out there. As a former journalist, I can't say that I am impressed with what has been happening in the news business over the last 20 years. The sloppiness demonstrated last night by the celebrity anchors in West Virginia is just the latest example.

This is an extemely difficult situation for all involved. Certainly the news delivered to the church most damaging. My question is, Why blame the Media when the mining company or the immediate rescue workers let the poor information out? I watched every hour of the programming on MSNBC and find no blame there. It is my understanding the Media was kept at quite a distance from the internal cituation.

Brian:
How many more miners must die for coal? How many more people must die for oil? When will we turn to other sources for our energy needs?

Brian I imagine you won't post this but you should be in West Virginia with the miners family. ABC was there you weren't.

I was glued to the T.V. in disbelief that they found them all alive considering all the circumstances. My heart went out to all the families. The media delivered the news they heard from the elated family members. Had I been in that church I would have wanted to rejoice as well but again considering all the deadly circumstances I would have wanted to make sure the news I was hearing was from a reliable source. Hatfield should not have waited 3 hours to let these people know that infact only 1 had survived. The other unbelivalble new was that these men were able to go to the church that soon to see there loved ones and again this was being told to the media by the families. My prayes go out to all the men who perished and to the one who was strong enough to survive. May God be with these men and there families during this most difficult time!

All the blame assignment in the world is not going to change what has already been done. Maybe everyone - the media, rescuers, family members, viewers, presidents, governors, CEO's- all parties- can change the way we ourselves respond in these situations and spend our energy trying to never do this again instead of point fingers and judging each other. No one likes the rug pulled out from underneath them and that is exactly what has happened. how very very sad.

I don't think we should blame the media. Instead of focusing on the miscommunciation, we should focus on the family members and help them through a difficult time. The mine owners should spend time, effort, and money to provide safety in the mines for their employees. This is the second major incident in the last 5 years, and who know how many other accidents that the public don't know. Safety is number one not blaming others.

I am so surprised that so much attention is given to such a situation. I went online to MSNBC hoping to find out information on Mr. McLoy, the one surviving miner. Instead, I see a long list of gripes, thanks, finger pointing, etc. listed. So, how is Mr. McLoy???? How are the families of the deceased??? How are they coping with the death of their loved ones, and how are they coping with what now will be the hardest thing they ever had to deal with, the death of a loved one.

There have been many reporters demanding that the families of these miners deserve an explanation as to how this rumor was started and how it was broadcast to the world. Well, MSNBC, CNN, FOX and the rest of the media, the rest of the world would like to hear your explanation as well. It sickens me that anyone would try to pin this on Mr. Hatfield, the government or the people who went in that mine, risking their own lives to save those men. Did ANYONE in the media try to confirm this information? By the way, how is the one surviving miner? It seems he has been forgotten. Apparently he is not the big story now, it's who the media can blame for their own screw up.

There is a great article by the editor of the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, explaining exactly what happened, but, more importantly, why the media are to blame in this as well. (http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/13548484.htm) I work with journalists and they will fact check information with me on the most insignificant minutae because not only is it their job and reputation on the line, it is also the right thing to do for their readers. I, like many others, went to bed thinking, "What a miracle, they're alive." I woke up and turned on the news and thought "How did this happen?" I can tell you exactly why millions of Americans believed what I did last night: because media outlets wanted to get the story out first, forget about checking facts. I realize that it's easy to get caught up in the frenzy and be excited, but I'd also caution the media to remember why you are at these types of events in the first place: to do a job. I also realize no one is perfect and mistakes happen; however, this was a pretty big mistake on a pretty large scale to let slide.

Sorry, the rule is that the ones with superior knowledge, or should have superior knowledge, have the greatest responsibility. This holds in law and in science, my profession, and it needs to hold in journalism. What goes out over the networks is the responsibility of the reporters and network, this is not an OOPS, so sorry moment. The media is at fault here entirely, not false messages or false messengers. Maybe this brings in focus why media with agendas are so loathed today.

We are often told that the "News business" is very very competitive and this is a reason to not harshly criticize when errors occur. Most of us, your audience, actually stick with one news outlet the largest percentage of the time and never, never spend a minute trying to determine who had any given story first. We are most interested in something being sure to be right rather than sure to be first. The media has been burned a good bit lately getting ahead of itself- please don't do it on our account and the result will be that you report the results of an election not your speculation and actual survivors if we have the extreme good fortune of their being survivors.

I don't think that finger pointing at this time is really going to make much of a diffrence to those people who are hurting from this terrible accident. Instead of taking the time hear to speak our minds about what the media did or didn't do right we could use that time instead praying for those that lost their lives. These people died and they leave wives, girlfriends, and children behind to greive for them. For those who are feeling the loss of a loved one they no longer care what was said about this, all they know is their loved one is not coming home...ever. As someone else said this is not a story about the MEDIA it is a story about a terrible accident that happened in this mine.

"...and we have just confirmed...." I can't prove it a day later, but I would swear in court that I heard Rita Cosby SAY these words right before she announced that 12 miners had been found alive. Confirmed?... how?... with whom? I didn't let myself believe the good news from anyone else (even Anderson Cooper, who is a far better reporter in general) until I heard Rita say "confirmed." Does that word mean anything anymore?

Tori (New Bedford, MA)

One would expect that Ben Hatfield, the mining company CEO, would have urged greater caution and used better discretion in communicating the status of the rescue efforts to the waiting families and media. His NON-UNION mining company (International Coal Group) ought to be fully investigated for possible worker safety violations! This situation makes me want to see John Sayles' film "Matewan" again. I send my compassion and sympathy to the families suffering an unimaginable loss right now.

For all of the family members of those who lost their lives in such a tragedy, the prayers of my family are with you today as they were in the beginning praying for a safe outcome. Please find comfort in the family and friends that are by your side at this time. Draw strength from their love, encouragement & prayers. We all look forward to the resurrection hope promised in the scriptures.

I am heart broken about this terrible ordeal the families were subjected to. I place no blame on the media. The horrific mistake was clearly made by the Ben Hatfield, CEO of the mining company. He was the messenger to the families and the media throughout this entire ordeal. He appeared extremely cautious and detailed from square one in releasing information. If I were a reporter on the seen, I would have rested assured that if it weren't true and verified by Hatfield and his Legal Counsel, it would not have been released to the families.

Brian
It seems when disasters and problems arise in our world, that we immediately need someone to blame--the recent Katrina disaster with everyone trying to place the blame somewhere other than their own backdoor was disgusting to those of us who are news addicts. Sometimes when we hear what we want to hear and not what was actually said--this reminds me of the game of gossip. West Virginians thank all of those who have prayed for the miners and their familes--keep doing so for the next few weeks. Let's focus on the families and their tradegy!

I understand the responsibility of public relations because as a human resource manager I recognize the fall out of not doing so, but why blame the organization immediately, once again not getting all the facts for the story, and asking why weren't they watching the media? Technology is a wonderful thing, brings stories like this to all of the world; however, we need to be responsible and patient as well. People and the process of making decisions don't always work as fast as a satelite, a T-1 line, or a keyboard.

Yo .. Don Henley... you are right... dirty laundry - everyone wants some. Why do we love misery? The up close personal shot of the grieving wife/daughter/son with some hack journalist sticking a microphone in their face asking "How do you feel"..Tell us..and THIS IS BEFORE THE BREAKING NEWS.. So tell me Brian..how were the ratings... must of made your day!. leave the families in peace..

I find it unfathomable that we focus narrowly on one aspect of this terrible tragedy. Lets face it there are many glaring issues. Should the mine have been shut down for safety purposes. Why did the media report a "rumor" as fact? Mine officials waiting so long when they absolutely knew the celebration was in error etc. etc. The rush to find blame with one single entity is off the mark. There is alot of blame and I sense anger and outrage over this drama. When does someone make the media accountable for their actions?!!! The govenor, the mine company, the press they should be held accountable as contributing to the downright awful way these families were treated. This never had to happen and yet the story continues to be "who is responsible. 12 men died lets honor and pray for those guys first! Oh...maybe that will not increase ratings but it is the right thing to do!!

Brian,

To a certain extent, the cheers and jeers of the public on this or any other story don't matter so much, because in the end it all becomes a bit of Internet white noise.

Instead, I ask you to share with us what if anything you've learned or discovered, as a professional and as a plain ol' human being, about what you do for a living...in the rush to be the first, but not necessarily the first to be right.

What we all have to remember is that the media heard the false news from the family members and friends themselves. Agreed that after the fact, they should have verified it before spending three hours reporting that they were alive. However, those people in that church were not watching CNN and the news was not delivered to the families via the media. Viewers at home were certainly misled by the media reporting the false information, but i think the most important issue is finding out who told the families in the church without verifying the information.

It's easy to sit here and blame, the media, the spokesperson for ICG, but the truth is, it was just a mistake and those things happen in the chaos that was in that command center. How can the media check facts for information that was not available? I understand why they did not go to the families immediately, they wanted to be sure, absolutely sure of the information that they had. It's easy to be angry when you lose a loved one, it's harder to move past it and move on. These families need to take the time to grieve for their loved ones and step away from the light of the media. And the media should let them do that.

What a heartwrenching feeling to wake up this morning to find out that the "news" from last night was not accurate and that only one miner - not 12 - from the mining accident that occurred in my neighboring county had survived. I did thank God for sparing this one man, however, my heart ached for the families of the others. Please continue to pray for the families of the miners who lost their lives in this tragic accident, as well as the lone survivor who is fighting for his life. Keep his family in your prayers as well. While his family is definitely relieved that he is alive, this is going to be very difficult for him and his family to deal with knowing the circumstances and events that surrounded this tragedy. No one on earth can know what this man went through in the mine as he lost his friends right beside him. Please keep him in your prayers. As for the "miscommunication", mistakes do happen, and this was a terrible one; however, let's pray that the mining company, the federal government, the media, and others will work to make sure nothing like this mistake ever happens again.

It was a mistake. I don't blame anyone. The news agencies weren't being greedy, they were simply reporting the news. They can't physically go down into the mine. If they said they were alive, then the news agencies must report that. It was a bad mistake... but a mistake.

Brian ...Thank You!
My prayers for those who are suffering these two disasters. We can feel the damage that this situation created. I believe that all communications were presented with good intentions - but unfortunately - when the Media reacts quickly for competition-ratings this is bound to happen. I also believe that this is not the last time that we will experience this type of disappointment.

The misinformation has surely added to the W.Va. mining tragidy, but the real concern IS the unsafe conditions these miners were working under. Focus our energy on providing a safer workplace for all miners. Another mining death will be just as tragic whether the mining officials get the press release right the first time or not.

I think its time for all Americans to SLOW DOWN! Everyone is fighting and scrambling to be No. 1 in anything and everything they do. If it doesn't turn out right we fight and scramble to point the finger at those to blame. I'm telling Americans...use common sense, CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE opening your mouth, make sure it won't hurt anyone if you do open your mouth. And for God sakes let's make sure we have safe environments for our mine people. This should have NEVER happened. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!

The miscommunication was clearly unintentional and with all that went on last night, almost unavoidable.
When will we begin to use common sense in a crisis and realize that finger pointing is a waste of valuable time.

I was one of many thousands, I'm sure, who was glued to the television last night on the west coast. Not wanting to go to bed until I had seen the miners with my own eyes, I couldn't help but sense there was something "not right" about the coverage. There was no scepticism on the part of the reporters, (on a rival network)despite some unbelievable claims. The idea that the miners who had been trapped for 40 hours under extreme contitions were going to walk out and go straight to a church--not a hospital--was too much to believe. I fell asleep before the truth came out, but my first thought in the morning was to check msnbc.com to see if it really happened. What heartbreak. I cannot imagine a more painful way to lose a loved one.

I find it amazing that we are amazed. In the age of 24/7 news, quantity and speed is more important than quality. Even if the news had NOT been misreported, this story would go down in my book as one of the worst examples of reporting in a long time. Asking the same questions over and over to family members ("but, in your heart of hearts, tell us all how you really FEEL") is just bad reporting. NEWS is only that if it is NEW...repeating the same (wrong, as it turns out) infomation over and over does no one any good.

The blame for this lies with no one. The familes, the media and the public wanted nothing more than to hear the news that the men trapped had indeed found a miracle and survived. Although the news this morning left me with a heavy heart, I was elated when I went to sleep last night. I remembered to say a prayer of thanks and hug my loved ones a little longer... Things we should all do without the reminder of a miracle being performed. We all wanted to believe... the media was simply acting on information they had received from what at the time was the most reliable source available... the rescue team and rescue coordinators. There was a miscommunication. Please remember that there was a miracle in all of this. Perhaps not the twelve we were praying for, but one soul who will survive and be able to tell the family and friends of those who did not survive of what happened in those long dark hours. While it may not bring them back, they will at least have their story told of the inevitable acts of heroism and bravery they committed during their final hours, and in this may their families find some relief. This is not a time to blame. It's a time to be grateful for all answered prayers... great and small.

The hurry to break the news has happened many times before, remember the last presedential election when the media predicted the sway of votes going to Senator Kerry in Florida? I wonder how many people decided not to vote, thinking that it didn't matter? The media is more dedicated to being the first to break a big story than they are about being accurate.

I find it hard to understand the ranters who blame the media. A very convenient excuse indeed. I do not believe the media caused the safety violations within the mine, or allowed miners to work in unsafe conditions. The media also did not allow the misrepresented statements to go unchecked for three hours. I beleive all of that rests on the mine company and its management. But, like the lemmings rushing to sea, most of us fail to see that because its easier to jump on the "blame the media bandwagon" that it is to actually think through the facts.

It strikes me that you would say "Weren't they (officials) WATCHING the coverage on television?"...isn't it more important that they kept their focus on the individuals who were risking their lives to find possible survivors? I am sure there were difficult decisions being made at every turn and I would hope that watching the news coverage was low on their list. It is just a tragedy all around and while it might be painful for us as viewers, the depth of the families pain is unimaginable. My heart goes out to them.

Unfortunately, our nations newsmedia has lost credibility, AGAIN! Not only do they not report facts, they invent stories from "sources" which when determined to be fabrications, defend themselves with, "reporting what we were told" aka Katrina; aka excuse by Brian Williams for obvious inaccurate reporting on NBC. But then in America, no one dares challenge the newsmedia, talk about Imperial Power. We've lost one of our most cherished institutions and constitutional safeguards to demoncracy.

Reporting news without credibility is the sensational way to earn a living. When will American say enough is enough. We are plagued with reporters constantly quoting an anonymouse source. The media needs to be reigned in.

Baloney . The media is often quilty of reporting inaccurate information in its haste to be first with the 'news'.

I think seeing headlines in my own newspaper that the miners were alive AFTER I knew they weren't was a real eye opener. It proves that while we want to believe the press is offering correct information, we cannot trust it blindly. It makes me very anxious about believing even the smaller details of any news story I read.

My mother gave me some great advice growing up. "When in doubt, don't" Meaning in this instance that if there is any doubt regarding the facts, DON'T report them. Take a breath, check them out. The agony of waiting a few extra minutes or hours to hear about the condition of the miners is nothing compared to the pain felt by the family and the nation after hearing that all were safe and then finding out it was not true.

News is not a reality show; MSNBC, CNN and FOx and all the networks seem to want to be the first to break a story; sorry, the state of journalism is pathetic now..CNN dumped Aaron Brown for Anderson Cooper who was acting like of course the story was true last night when BREAKING NEWS was out that 12 miners were alive; Aaron Brown long ago said you need to check your sources; All network news and all cable news cares about is ratings; there is no integrity in tv/cable/network news until you all stop trying to top each other in ratings. Cable is the worst thing that ever happened to news coverage.

it's pathetic just like how the news media has let Bush and co get away with waging a war on false pretenses...years later you find out there was faulty info. Journalists everwhere need to wake up and get some integrity and stop trying to be stars and get high ratings. This is truly pathetic.

Brian:

Is it possible we are too focused on the miscommunications and not enough on the hole that is being left in the lives of the friends and family of the deceased?

Well said. I have only one comment, in reference to where you say, "In the light of day, media types and civilians alike were asking a question last asked during Katrina: Weren't they (officials) WATCHING the coverage on television?" I would hope the officials were NOT watching television and were instead managing the rescue operation. Also, anyone present there (family member, mine representative, politician, reporter, ANYONE) who told even ONE person that the 12 were alive without first waiting for official word shares in the blame.

...'weren't the officials watching the coverage on television'??? Why would they be? I would think that they would have been concentrating on the job at hand (either getting the men out or helping the families). It would have been good had the media concentrated on their job as well.

Brian, I think you are really terrific. However, I find it really amusing that it is now the reponsibility of the people in the midst of an event making the news, to watch the news to make sure the media gets it right. Shame on you and all of the other media members. I actually saw a piece on CNN on how difficult this story has been for the media to cover because of the waiting with no action or "news". I was totally turned off once again by the media's handling of this event. My heart goes out to those poor families.

It just goes to show you how quickly rumors start and end. I hold everyone involved in the lack of communication and the media for not asking if this information was confirmed before reporting it. The media is so quick to report with out checking first. Just another example, as someone wrote earlier about all the rabid rumors of what happened in New Orleans after the hurricane. None of it true either.Even the mayor and former police chief, jumped on that band wagon and went so far as having Oprah do a show. What a disgrace.

I was watching MSNBC at 1:00 am when this broke. I woke my wife to tell her of the great news. In the am we found out it was reversed. Everywhere, and on all networks since then (I haven't watched or listened all day)it has been about who has been at fault in reporting this.
The major and only issue is that 12 men have died.

C'mon folks, quite bashing the media. The media did it's job. It is not the media the created the information, only relaying what officials told them.

If you want to blame anyone for this miscommunication, blame the American public that has an incredible appetite for having news NOW!

Blaming the media is for losers who don't want to admit fault: Sammy Sosa, for getting caught with a corked bat; George Bush, for getting caught wiretapping Americans without a warrant

In all the tragedy that has surrounded these families and this community, I see no reason to point the finger of blame for the hopes that rose for those 3 joyful hours. Most assuredly, we all wanted to hear that the miners were alive... we believed it so much that it came true. I'm reminded of the poem by Emily Dickinson:

Hope is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I've heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of Me.

My prayer is that although our hearts have been broken, our hope in humanity and in God will not fail us at this devastating time.

You guys could give two craps about those miners, you just wanted a story. Do not pretend that there will be an investigation on your part, because there wont be. You will just say you are sorry and go onto the next story, as if it never happened. You all will never learn your lesson. God Bless those family members, and I pray to GOD, that they will be strong for their children. God opened his doors for them, and my grandfather(who recently was killed), sang them in with his beautiful voice. GOD BLESS you, miners and your family. I know you are watching over them.

I believe that the mining company (ICG) had the best interests of all concerned at heart during the rescue effort and were working under extradorinarily difficult circumstances. I too feel terrible about the communication mistake but do not hold the company (or anyone) accountable. Further, the lack of 100% perfect communication was secondary to the rescue effort. Finally, this is not about the media but rather about the human condition. Something which (I believe) those in the media find difficult to embrace.

Good article, Brian. It seems like the more media outlets we have, and the faster the news gets delivered, the more grains of salt we need to take with it. Some of these cable news shows provide more problems than help these days. My deepest sympathy to all the families who were so vastly affected by this yesterday. God bless them.

As I see it there are 2 different problems here. 1 WHO BROKE THE NEWS that the miners were alive and 2 WHY DID THE MEDIA report that they were alive with out validating the story and then putting it to print. I can't answer the first question. But as to the second one. It's MEDIA HYPE (Who is first with a breaking story). And the sad truth is 12 families have had their hearts wrenched in more ways than anyone can even imagine. My heart goes out to them in this real time and need. Hopefully the Media with do some serious soul searching and come up with a solution to this MEDIA HYPE. I expect accuracy not half truths. And we as a nation deserve and demand it.

With real-time news must come real-time responsibility to report the news truthfully.
The fast pace of the media today unfortunately means that mis-information is spread much more readily.
Remember Katrina? And how did the tv reporters feel a day or 2 later when they started seeing first hand the rest of the gulf coast, and Waveland, Mississippi in particular. I bet they felt like dopes. New Orleans got flooded, but the coast "out there" simply wasn't there any more. And then what happened? The networks went with , and ran into the ground, the angle on the story that was the "sexiest". Poor monority inner-city recipients that the media felt were too poor to evacuate by themselves. Despite reports of over 100,000 automobiles sitting flooded in parking lots all around the city, outside houses and apartments.
Blame this mess on the MEDIA, where the blame squarely belongs.

I don't exactly blame the media, but let's get real. A "miscommunication" is whether there is beef or bean soup for lunch. Not that 12 people are alive or dead. I grieve for the poor families.

Blame, blame, blame. The media didn't kill anyone. In fact it didn't appear that any of the families of the victims heard their loved ones were alive from the media - it was cell phones. I cannot imagine the rollercoaster of emotions but nothing the media or any official did changed the tragic ending. The focus here is awfully skewed - the media is making themselves the story.

When I went to bed our local NBC affiliate was showing all the commotion in WV but kept reminding the audience that they were waiting for a press conference. Never did they come out and say there were 12 survivors. They mentioned "reports" of survivors. If no one had reported anything the same bunch of blamers would be screaming about their "right to know".

Where is the credibility in the media anymore? In this day where news companies are competing for viewers and trying desperately to trump each others stories it seems as if the news is more about entertainment rather than truth. All news outlets never had official word on the safety on the miners and they continued to print and air the hearsay. Recent examples also include the reporting on Katrina, the Tsunami, and especially 9/11 where competing news outlets time after time reported on hearsay rather than fact. Case in point, Hurricane Katrina where news outlets repeatedly reported on the numbers of missing and dead, and also on the numbers of dead and raped in the Superdome. However, as the truth came out the numbers of actual dead, actual missing, actual dead/missing/raped in the Superdome were way off. Reporting news when there is no accountability leads down a destructive path of a misinformed public, which sadly, we have today on a variety of issues.

I suspected something was amiss last night when a reporter from a cable news channel asked a relative of one of the miners where he learned the good news -- and his response was "From you guys". How many people are hurt every day in the rumour mill that has developed due to "breaking news" journalism.

Whatever happened to FACT checking? I listened, and not one cable outlet tried to confirm anything. Instead the headlines read "12 Miners Alive" - where did that come from? Just Rumors. How sad. Didn't it seem odd that the Press was kept far back from the scene. We all feel for the families. My family was from W VA so I understand the life.

Why was this mine still open after all the violations? Why does there have to be a tragedy like this before the government takes these things seriously? My heart pours out to these families.
If you are going to point fingers point it at the people who kept this mine open!

I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I FEEL VERY SAD ABOUT WHAT HAPPEND TO ALL THE MINERS, BUT I DONT THINK THAT ANYONE INTENTIONAL MADE THAT CALL , I DONT THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE BLAMMED FOR WHAT HAPPENED, TO ALL THE FAMILIES MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU , YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS...

This mine tragedy has brought into sharp focus for me just how truly awful today's cable "journalists" are... every one of last night's cable anchors (Anderson Cooper/CNN, the awful Rita Cosby/MSNBC, or Bill Hemmer/Fox) should either go back to journalism school and learn how to check facts before going on air, or else be fired. They were all an embarassment to television news. All three of them should call Dan Rather to see how it feels to be careless with the facts, and announce their sincere apologies on air tonight

As a former journalist (emphasis on the word "former"), too often I see in today's media a tendency for outlets to play a "follow the leader" game ... as in, if one media outlet reports something, surely it must be true, therefore they "run with it." What a recipe for disaster! What makes this "game" more unbearable in this case is the deep human emotion that was invested in the West Virginia mine story.

We can't blame the media itself for the miscommunication that triggered this entire tragic episode. The miscommunication by itself probably started in a very simple, human way; it happens countless number of times every day in normal conversations. The impact of that initial miscommunication in this instance is simply multiplied immeasurably by the situation, and by the lives and emotions that were at stake.

Should we point fingers? No. That won't solve anything. It won't bring back a single one of the miners who perished.

Can the media learn a lesson from this? Yes. Get OFFICIAL verification. Not verification from other media outlets, but OFFICIAL verification. Get verification on that verification. Nail it all down so it's airtight.

Deep emotions are at stake here.

Maybe the news media will be alittle bit more careful of reporting Breaking News until they the facts straight! I did not mind the "Breaking News" breaking into Jay Leno Show to say the 12 miners were alive and will go up to the church where their loved ones waited. I then went to bed, praising GOD for delivering us a miracle in West Virginia. I did mind watching the news the next morning to say the "surviving" miner (singular) was in critical condition. I then went to work with a very heavy heart. Please, Please, get the news right before showing it to the millions of anxious viewers.

Brian, you've said it well. In it's haste to be first, many media outlets do not confirm stories and facts within stories with the same urgency they gather the stories in an effort to be first, and a single event, even one as sad as this, isn't the problem. The problem is that the cumulative effect brings doubt and allows government to defend often incredibly dangerous behaviour by simply saying the press got it wrong, and the greater the stories like this become, the more believable those utterances are. There's the real danger for all of us. Your honesty and forthrightness is refreshing.

This is a tragic story for the families of the miners and the people of WV and my heart goes out to them. It is horrific that both the media and business leaders shirked their responsiblity to maintain ethics and integrity in communicating to the detriment of these families and reprehensible of all involved to wait three hours.

Brian:

When I first joined the military, one of my leaders said to our group, "A person's character is defined not by the mistakes he or she makes; rather, it is the actions that person takes after the mistake is made." Twelve years later, after changing careers into the medical field, I strive to live by that saying. After this tragedy (and the surrounding fracas), it appears to me that while some people are concerned about their character, other more important (or influential) people are not.

With this event and all events we are all only human. We should not be focusing on when the media broke a story, but how the families are doing and what can be done in the future to so incidents like this do not happen to good people. I am sure there are people out there who are looking to place blame, and the media is not the people to blame. Maybe it is the owners, maybe it is the inspectors for not shutting down a dangerous mine, or maybe this incident was meant to be to save others from such tragic events. May all our thoughts be with the families now.

Brian:
Of all of todays technology, a human still has to make a final decision. My prayers are with the families and coworkers of the victims.

Apparently no lessons were learned from Katrina, when histrionic reports of babies being raped and other atrocities (all of them untrue) went unchecked and unrecanted, all because the MSM outlets were racing to get there first. That's what's unforgivable here: the media's continued devolvement into entertainment and out of journalism.

I agree with others that are concerned with the 'rush to be first' phenomena. My question is, What exactly does that get a news organization? I follow the news like most people and I can't recall who broke any of the 'big stories' of recent weeks. Except that everyone says they broke the big story.

I do agree that the news media should of continued to say "this is hear say" if they were going to say the 12 were alive, I think the most important thing for US as Americans is to Pray and Pray for all the families and friends of these brave lost men.

As difficult as it is for those who lost a loved one in the SAGO Mine, I hope they don't stop believing that GOD answers prayers. He did perform a miracle, He not only heard their prayers, He answered all of our prayers and brought out one, battered but alive. It was a MIRACLE that anyone survived that blast.

You are making this into a MEDIA story. THIS IS NOT A MEDIA STORY. IT IS A STORY ABOUT A TRAGIC MINE DISASTER, THE MINERS THAT DIED, THE ONE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SURVIVE AND THEIR FAMILIES. I have tremendous respect for NBC News and other generally responsible media but you (they) are just a sub story here. And yes I do have some sympathy for the media in this case, but let's maintain some perspective here. Ken Kolman

Another reason I get most of my news from NPR; I am so turned off (and I have for the most part) by both the local and national news programs whose only intent is be able to claim "first on..", "only on...". Give me NPR and BBC anytime,,,,they really provide an outstanding perspective as to the "why" of a story,,,,sorry NBC, ABC, CBS!

There will be plenty blame to go around. Since offcials and so on are named will there be a naming of names of the media and a fixing of blame there as well? How times do you have to end up with egg on your face before the culture of we're the firstest with the mostest takes a back seat to truth and accuracy?

The media belives that its job is no longer informative but sensationalism. The rush to be first has once again exposed the real motive behind news reporting. It is not the right of the people to be informed, it is ratings. If the media would spend less time on their hair and more time actually informing the public, it would not be suffering from this identity crisis. It is time that the major media acknowledges that there are serious and horrible consequences to their "mistakes", and realize that there is very little credibility left in this business.

Brian:
Mistakes are made everyday in news. I think they did their best, yet the worst came of it. People are already talking about suing. The risk of any job is foreseeable. My heart goes out to the families.

BRIAN,
THIS SHOULD BE A LESSON TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AT NBC TO EXCERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN REPORTING ON SUCH POTENTIALLY DEVESTATING NEWS!! WHAT A HEARTBREAKING SITUATION!! GOD BLESS THEIR SOULS AND FAMILIES AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

At the mine, miners were trying to save lives, in the newsrooms, you were trying to get a story that could captivate your audience and increase your ratings. I wonder if the media will launch it's own investigation on itself to see why such a blunder made it to print and top of the news. My prayers go out to those families.

Reality TV is not news. Ratings for reality TV increase with drama and conflict. This is not lost on the news media. Last night the reporters kept asking family members during the jubilation to "describe their feelings." Feelings are not facts. We needed to know timelines, confirming sources and medical truths of living underground for 41 hours with carbon monoxide. The media found live reality shows for free ... with the ultimate price being paid by the families. Shame on all of us.

Clearly this is media jumping into the rumor mill. No journalist should make statements regarding anything until they've confirmed it through a primary source in the case of "breaking news" such as this or through thorough vetting through corroborating accounts and documentation of past events

This tragic story exemplifies what's wrong with today's media. Somewhere along the line Journalism 101 went out the windown in favor of rating, advertising revenue, and one's person name. Shame on all the media for this. While the death of these mine workers is tragic and we greive for their families, the whorish behavior of the news media (both print and tv) can not be forgotten.. Perhaps if you all took the time to get the story straight, confirm your facts we'd have less of this. But it's more inportant in today's news to be first, rather then accurate.
furthermore, the amount of independently owned media shops has dwindeled down to so few, basically all the news comes from 4 or 5 places, which are hell bend on promoting their own networks, books, movies, etc rather then focusing on the truth. Peter jennings and Howard Cossell must be turning in their graves.

In the rush to be first, the media again didn't insure the the story was correct but lets hope that in the rush to condemn the media, we don't lose focus on the fact that the government found over 270 safety violations at this site and did nothing while allowing the company to continue operation. That is the real story here.

Didn't the media learn a lesson during the Presidential Elections of 2000? Didn't we all learn a lesson? The media is a medium that is in the middle; between the right and wrong of news. More often the media loves to sensationalize the story. In this case, of the lost miners, the story was sensationalized beyond the truth, beyond comprehension and beyond feelings that we (news watchers) are use to having played with. The media needs to interview themselves, write an apology, report on that apology, broadcast the apology as well as report on what they (the media) has learned, what their future reporting styles will be and how to prevent such actions, again. Until then, good night Foxnews, CNN, MSNBC and all local news outlets!

How do y'all think this is the fault of the media? I watched last night ... and I saw friends and family celebrate, while reporters continued to say "it appears" or "it is not confirmed". I saw people interviewed who said they heard it second hand.

The official confirmation may have been later than it should have been, but that is not the fault of the media either.

Here's a thought... instead of finger pointing at anyone, why not just say a prayer for the miners' families?

This incident reminds me of the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981 when the three major networks and CNN reported the death of James Brady, Reagan's press secretary. Some networks reported "unconfirmed" reports of his death. Brady staffers at the White House heard the report, left their office in tears, and spoke to reporters about his death. These conversations were seen as confirmation that Brady died. As we know James Brady did not die. Last night, cable news network reporters were interviewing jubilant relatives who were repeating information they heard from studio anchors at those same networks, creating the same circle of false confirmation.

The mining company officials bear the burden of explaining why they did not immediately issue bulletins to correct the misinformation, stating the search was still continuing, or something similar, to keep family members from believing this terrible misconception.

The media should have called these reports unfounded until a new conference was called by the mining company.

Shame on the governor also for not waiting for a new conference by the mining company.

As as has been prevoiusly stated all the media conglomerates care about is the bottom line. The front page of The Washington Post boasted today "12 Miners Found Alive in WV" only to find out the information is completely false. What happened to journalism in this country? Why is it no longer about getting the facts to the people? The entire media world should be ashamed of themselves and their behavior in recent years.

It was a mistake. Mistakes happen. No one intentionally wanted to pass around incorrect, hurtful information. It is a sign of the times, we communicate so much faster than ever before...cell phones, computers. In just a few minutes good news, bad news, correct news and incorrect news can be made public. We will learn from this. That's all we can do.

In today's fast-paced world where we expect immediate information we have to accept that errors will occur. I personally do not feel that this error was on the part of the media, but instead that the media was reporting the error disclosed to it during the early morning hours.

Brian:

Excellent writing of the media's shortcomings, well done. Chet Huntley would be pleased. (Forget Walter C.)

Greg Danoras

I feel the media did their job and this was just a horrible miscommunication. Its not the media fault if officials and local townspeople give them misinformation. The media's role now is to investigate how the misinformation went unabated for three hours and who that "unknown source" was that called the governor.

I will not blame the media for any of this. The whole