I spent the wee hours of Wednesday morning trying to confirm details of a horrible story. A year-and-a-half old boy shot and killed in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night.

From 5:00 until 6:00 I reported, "last we heard the child was in critical condition, but no word on his condition this morning." I kept saying that even though one of our competitors reported the child had died.

I talked to three St. Louis County Police officers before day break and none could confirm the child's condition until finally an officer told me, "the case is listed as a homicide."

At that point I was able to go on the air at 6:30 and say the child died.

In our business, getting it first and getting it right is what it's all about, but getting it right trumps getting it first.

I've seen it happen from time to time... a news entity having to retract a report of a death. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable than to have to go on the air and say something like, "Sorry, that person we said died really didn't."

I don't think any journalist wants to be in that position. I know I don't.

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