Category Archives: Radio

Corrections correction

August 19, 2009 – 8:00 am

This story mistakenly said that California spends as much money on corrections as its entire education system. The story should have said that the state spends as much money on corrections as it does on its higher education system. Link

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History lesson

July 28, 2009 – 8:00 am

The audio introduction to this story said, "Back in 1989, before the dawn of the Internet, three young students at Beijing University were among those at the center of the drama in Tiananmen Square." In fact, accounts of the Tiananmen Square killings were relayed via the Internet in 1989. Link

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Jurassic fail*

July 3, 2009 – 8:00 am

Our critic mistakenly said that an ice age "marked the death of the dinosaurs," rather than their advent. In fact, neither is true. The text of the review has been updated. Link
*Correction July 3: Speaking of failure, the word "Jurassic" was misspelled in this headline. It has been corrected. Thanks, Kate!

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NPR kills South Korean president

June 2, 2009 – 8:00 am

We incorrectly said that South Korean President Lee Myung-bak had killed himself. It was actually former President Roh Moo-hyun who committed suicide. Link

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Equality, not equity

June 2, 2009 – 8:00 am

We incorrectly referred to a gay rights group as “Equity Illinois.” It is actually called “Equality Illinois.” Link

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But he is retiring

April 20, 2009 – 8:00 am

In some broadcasts, we said, “Madden ended his career working for Monday Night Football on ESPN.” In fact, he was working for Sunday Night Football on NBC when he decided to retire. Link

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The harassment continues…

April 20, 2009 – 8:00 am

We said, “[I]n Paris, two Muslim girls were harassed by a Jewish gang.” In fact, the two Muslim students were boys. Link

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Fuzzy numbers etc.

March 27, 2009 – 8:00 am

We said, “Compare that tripling of risk, a 300 percent increase in death [among smokers], to what the study found about red meat — a 30 percent increase.” In fact, a tripling of risk is a 200 percent increase. Link

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Death by media

March 25, 2009 – 8:00 am

The story incorrectly referred to “the late Joan Didion.” Joan Didion has not died. Link

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Been there, done that

February 27, 2009 – 8:00 am

In some broadcasts, we said that “Sen. Kerry may go [to Syria] in the near future.” In fact, he has already returned from Syria. Link

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The company he keeps

December 12, 2008 – 8:00 am

We said former New Jersey Gov. William Cahill was “convicted of a crime.” Although Cahill’s campaign manager, his appointed state treasurer and his appointed secretary of state were convicted of corruption charges, Cahill was never charged, let alone convicted, of any crimes. Link

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Clearly, NPR is not the NRA*

December 9, 2008 – 8:00 am

In some versions of this interview, we said N.Y. Giants player Plaxico Burress had shot himself with a “40-millimeter Glock.” We should have said .40-caliber. Link
*Correction: This headline originally read “Clarly” rather than “Clearly.”

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Removed from the Senate

December 2, 2008 – 8:00 am

We incorrectly referred to “former Sen. Chuck Hagel.” Hagel is still in the Senate. Link

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BBC airs apology for Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross affair

November 10, 2008 – 8:00 am

BBC issued an on air apology on Radio 2 Saturday morning in order to try and make amends for the Russel Brand/Jonathan Ross scandal. Below is the text of the apology. (A slightly different version that didn’t mention Mr. Sachs’ wife and family was broadcast prior to this altered version.)
On 18 October, the BBC broadcast [...]

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The Five Tuesdays You Spent Meeting People in Heaven With Morrie

November 7, 2008 – 8:00 am

We incorrectly identified the title of two books by author Mitch Albom as Afternoons with Morrie and The Five People You Most Want to Meet in Heaven. They are actually called Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Link

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Lessons in geography etc.

October 28, 2008 – 8:00 am

In some versions of this story, we incorrectly described New Mexico as “the swing state next to Nevada.” New Mexico and Nevada are not contiguous. Link

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Local, but not a lawyer

October 28, 2008 – 8:00 am

We incorrectly described Baron Hill as “a local attorney” in southeastern Indiana. In fact, Hill has never been a lawyer. Link

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All actors are alike

October 27, 2008 – 8:00 am

Some versions of this story incorrectly said Daniel Day-Lewis acted in the movie The Scarlet Letter. The film actually starred Gary Oldman. Link

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Death by media

October 21, 2008 – 8:00 am

As told by the Guardian’s amusing Media Monkey:
The history of radio is littered with presenters announcing that people had died, when they hadn’t. Sometimes it’s accidental – Bob Geldof on a former incarnation of London’s Xfm sombrely intoned that Ian Dury had died, years before the veteran rocker actually passed away. Sometimes it’s for a [...]

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A radical correction

October 8, 2008 – 8:00 am

In the story, we described William Ayers as “a member of the radical Weather Underground responsible for deadly bombings in the 1960s.” In fact, no one was killed or injured in any of the bombings that the group claimed responsibility for, and most of their activities, including bombings, were conducted in the 1970s. Link

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It’s all German to them

September 23, 2008 – 8:00 am

In describing the plot of the musical The Rothschilds, the story referred to “Germany’s Prince Metternich.” Prince Metternich was an Austrian statesman and diplomat; Germany wasn’t a nation until 1871. Link

And:
Some versions of this story incorrectly referred to Heineken as a German beer. Heineken is produced in the Netherlands. Link

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Not a fan of the architect

August 21, 2008 – 8:00 am

The audio version of this story described the City Hall in Elgin, Ore., as “makeshift” and “portable.” It is actually a permanent building constructed to house city offices. Link

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Painting in some background

August 14, 2008 – 8:00 am

In this interview, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is described as an assassin and as head of “one of the most gruesome execution factories that’s ever gone in record.” While many details of the Iranian president’s background remain unclear, the available evidence does not support those allegations. Link

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Not quite as reported

August 6, 2008 – 8:00 am

The story says that “nearly all workers” pay into an unemployment fund. In fact, unemployment insurance is funded by employers. Link

The introduction to this story says the 2001 anthrax attacks “shut down the U.S. postal system.” Some post offices were closed by the attacks, but mail continued to be delivered. Link

In some broadcasts, we said [...]

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Very fuzzy numbers etc.

August 5, 2008 – 8:00 am

Some versions of this story incorrectly said: “One out of every two Black Americans is infected with HIV, according to a new report from the Black Aids Institute.” In fact, as the story now says, “One in two persons newly infected with HIV in the U.S. is African-American … ” Link

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