The Mid-Ocean's major embarrassment provides a teaching moment for all media organisations in Bermuda. Sloppiness is, unfortunately, a hallmark of Bermuda journalism. Much of Bermuda's media is so eager to convict the PLP, and especially Premier Ewart Brown, that they rush allegations to press without proper journalistic vetting. The Mid-Ocean's apology:

On January 9, 2009 the Mid-Ocean News published a front page article entitled "The Whole Thing Stinks" in which it was incorrectly stated that Paragon Trust Ltd. was beneficially owned by a number of Cabinet Ministers and their relatives.

The Mid-Ocean News acknowledges that this aspect of the article was factually erroneous... The Mid-Ocean News accepts, without reservation, that its description of the shareholders of Paragon Trust Ltd. was factually wrong and that this mistake was inexcusable and would not have occurred if this aspect of the article had been more fully researched.

Our friends in the media have an obligation to the people of Bermuda to ensure that what they're reporting is factual. And, while the Mid-Ocean News did the right thing by printing an apology, we hope that they, and other news outlets on our island, will cease their sloppy ways and embrace a higher standard of journalistic integrity. It's one reason why this Government is committed to helping bring better journalism to Bermuda by providing training opportunities to produce high quality, Bermudian journalists that fairly and accurately report the news.

It's shocking that the Opposition has yet to apologise for their role in stoking the flames of false allegation. They owe it to the people of Bermuda to be honest with their critiques. By jumping on the bandwagon of false accusations, they're doing an extreme disservice to the people they are charged with representing.