Let me put a finger on a serious media problem

Saturday's NY Times reported that Wendy's has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an apparent hoax involving a woman who claims she found a finger in her chili. The article pointed out this woman has a long history of making claims against businesses.

The story was buried on Page 8. The original story -- and subsequent pictures -- were front page news on many newspapers and TV stations.

As a result, Wendy's has lost millions.

So where's the fairness? Shouldn't the discovery of the hoax be played up as prominently as the original charge, which was clearly false?

This isn't the first time a newspaper has placed a correction or and update to a sensational story inside the paper when the original cause was printed on the front page. Many people who were accused of crimes on the front page were cleared of the charges on page 2 or worse.

This blog won't change anyone's editorial policy, I'm sure, but it is time that the media acknowledge a long-standing problem. Why are they turning a blind eye to a problem that affects their credibility, which is their most important asset?