Glenn Kessler, a former fact-checker for The Washington Post, recently acknowledged a significant error in his assessment of the COVID-19 lab leak theory. In a conversation with The Editors, Kessler admitted he was “completely wrong” to label the theory as “doubtful” back in 2020. He expressed “infinite regret” for his original stance, which diverged sharply from what many were beginning to suspect at the time.
This confession comes after years of heated debate about the virus’s origins, as Kessler, back in 2020, contributed to a narrative that dismissed serious inquiries into a potential lab leak. As President Trump drew attention to the Wuhan lab, much of the media, including Kessler’s own article, favored the transmission-from-bats narrative. This diversion not only confused the public but also hindered Trump’s response efforts, giving China room to avoid accountability.
Kessler reflected on his blunder, saying, “When you’ve got a title like ‘the fact checker,’ when you make a mistake, people notice.” However, many question whether his admission is enough. While he attempts to contextualize the error as a common occurrence—”Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect”—the consequences of this specific misjudgment were profound. It influenced public perception and spurred censorship against dissenting viewpoints.
“Because I’m uncertain where it stands, and you framed it in a way that made it seem more definitive than what we came up with,” Kessler quoted one of his colleagues. This admission implies an awareness of the tension between journalistic integrity and the pressures of public opinion. Despite admitting he “screwed up,” Kessler pointed to his extensive body of work, claiming it overshadowed the mistake. “Yes, there might be a dozen bad apples there,” he noted, suggesting that minor errors should not define an entire career.
Kessler’s handling of the situation raises critical questions about accountability in journalism. His blunder went unpunished, and even as he left The Washington Post after nearly thirty years, it appears the standard for media professionals may differ based on their political leanings. In a landscape increasingly influenced by bias, many are left wondering if truths are too often obscured by a push for a certain narrative. Kessler’s moment of contrition may not suffice in restoring trust in a media landscape many perceive as increasingly partisan.
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