Poor journalism or research?

[GenFerret]

I have just found this thread regarding my story which appeared in a newspaper approximately three years ago now,  and in particular the reference implying that my research was inaccurate regarding William of Orange, and my relationship to him. I totally understand the cynicism and I can confirm that this is not the information I provided to the journalist. My interview was carried out via telephone, and there was a lot of information for the journalist to record. Unfortunately he confused the information I provided and the spin off from this was a lot of negative comments regarding my integrity in researching my family history.  May I just set the record straight regarding this. I did not provide any false information regarding my story. I do have strong ancestral connections with royalty and my story did begin with my Great Grandmother Madeline Constance Browne who did live in a little terrace house in Belfast, and William of Orange is in my Family Tree, as a cousin, not as a grandparent. I also told the journalist how my father started the research back in the 1970's via the Dublin Records Office, ploughing through very dusty records with a jotter and a pencil. It took many tedious hours before he found Nicholas Clinton Browne's name.  I did not like the tone of some of the comments regarding my story. I have been in touch with the Newspaper and made them aware of the negative feedback due to the journalist's misunderstanding and not through any fault of my own. I am not in the business of providing any misleading information and at the time, I did post a reply to the newspaper online comments stating the following -

"The Mary Stuart and William referred to as Gt. Grandparents in the article, are Mary Stuart and William Sarsfield, brother of Major General Patrick Sarsfield ( 9XGrand Uncle), of Wild Geese fame. William of Orange is a first cousin 11 times removed, he was son of Princess Mary Henrietta Stuart and William ll von Nassau Dillenburg. Princess Mary Henrietta Stuart was the daughter of Charles 1 Stuart, and Henriette de Bourbon ( 11XGt. Grandparents)".

I do have a very fascinating family history, none of which is fabricated, as is implied in some comments here.  I am certain that no one intended to mislead. It was a simple error.

[DavidG02]

My interview was carried out via telephone,

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I do have a very fascinating family history, none of which is fabricated, as is implied in some comments here.  I am certain that no one intended to mislead. It was a simple error.

An article about the ease of searching records without getting dusty carried out over the phone lines. I am sure someone can find the appropriate word ( I don't think it is irony)

I  think the OP was questioning more the style of the reporting rather than the substance. 

[clearly]

Dgibbins02, you hit the nail right on the head. I had no issue with the veracity of the family histories but as the articles were aimed at beginners, I was pointing out that all information should be checked at the original source.

It don't think the articles mentioned Ancestry, The Genealogist, Family Search or any of the other sites, only Find My Past who just happened to be giving away free credits to use their site.  Not balanced reporting and certainly against the ethic of a press free from outside influence.

[suey]

Dgibbins02, you hit the nail right on the head. I had no issue with the veracity of the family histories but as the articles were aimed at beginners, I was pointing out that all information should be checked at the original source.

It don't think the articles mentioned Ancestry, The Genealogist, Family Search or any of the other sites, only Find My Past who just happened to be giving away free credits to use their site. Not balanced reporting and certainly against the ethic of a press free from outside influence.

The very reason I no longer buy a daily newspaper.

[Katharine F]

It would have been impossible for me to find my one of my great grandfathers without a visit I made to the National Archives. We broke down a big brickwall from our visit.