Gawker spotted a Reuters story that fell victim to a murderous lapse in editing:
This is a perfect opportunity to recall two of Reuters’ best typos: Queen Elizabeth and her remarkable egg-laying abilities, and “beef panties.”
As you’re no doubt aware, a photograph purporting to show the successful test firing of four missiles by Iran was revealed to have been manipulated. In fact, only three missiles were successfully fired. The image, provided by the Iranian government, was distributed by Agence-France Presse and used by many media outlets. You can view some [...]
In a story July 2, The Associated Press reported that Walt Disney World believes it is exempt from a new state law that allows gun owners with a valid concealed weapons permit to keep firearms in their cars in most parking lots.
Disney World spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said the zero-tolerance policy applies only to employees. Guests [...]
In a story June 30, The Associated Press reported that a new Florida law allows employees and customers to keep guns in their cars when parked in lots owned by private and government employers. The story should have made clear that these gun owners must have a valid concealed weapons permit. Also, the law does [...]
In initial versions of an April 18 story about a custody hearing for children in a polygamist sect, The Associated Press erroneously reported a portion of testimony by sect expert W. John Walsh. He testified that a bed at the temple in Eldorado, Texas, was used by fasting worshippers who fainted during the long services. [...]
In a May 29 obituary for comedian Harvey Korman, The Associated Press misidentified two recurring sketches in which he appeared on “The Carol Burnett Show.” They were “The Family,” not “Ed and Eunice,” and “Carol and Sis,” not “Old Folks at Home.”
The story also erroneously reported that “The Carol Burnett Show” was cancelled by CBS [...]
In a June 7 transcript of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s concession speech, The Associated Press erroneously reported one word in the transcription. The New York senator said she has “a deep and abiding love for our country.” She used the word “abiding,” not dividing. Link
In obituaries on April 22 and April 23 for singer Joe Feeney of “The Lawrence Welk Show,” The Associated Press, relying on information from his son, erroneously reported that Feeney was a starting quarterback for the University of Nebraska football team. The university says Feeney attended the school in the early 1950s, but never played [...]
In a Feb. 28 obituary for Ben Chapman, The Associated Press described the one-time Hollywood actor as a decorated Korean War veteran. According to Chapman’s family, he was awarded a Silver Star and Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts while serving with the Marines in Korea, medals in the family’s possession. Chapman, 79, died Feb. [...]
April 18, 2008 – 12:59 pm
In an April 16 story about DC-9 airplanes, The Associated Press misspelled the last name of the director of technical programs at the Washington-based Flight Safety Foundation. He is Jim Burin, not Durbin.
The story also misspelled the name of the airplane manufacturer. It is McDonnell Douglas Corp., not McConnell.
The story incorrectly reported the date that [...]
In an April 3 story about Mega Millions winner David Sneath, The Associated Press reported erroneously Sneath’s comment about what kind of a car he would buy. He didn’t say he would not buy a Ford product. His correct quote was: “I worked for Ford Motor Company. I won’t be buying a foreign product.” Link
The [...]
In an April 2 story about the settlement of a lawsuit by a Jewish former inmate against the state Corrections Department, The Associated Press reported erroneously the name of a Florida-based group that provides Jewish food and religious items to people in prisons and other institutions. It is the Aleph Institute, not the Adelph Institute. [...]
AP moved a story yesterday about David Gregory’s new show on MSNBC, “Race for the White House.” But that’s not what an early version of the story called it:
Thanks, Tim!
February 12, 2008 – 8:00 am
In a Feb. 10 story about the court martial of a U.S. Army sniper, The Associated Press reported erroneously that medical experts testified that post traumatic stress syndrome was partly the reason the soldier lied about events surrounding the shooting of an Iraqi civilian. The medical experts testified there was no relationship between lying and [...]
February 8, 2008 – 8:00 am
In a Jan. 30 story about fired TV news anchor Alycia Lane, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the wife of NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen tipped tabloid gossip columnists to the existence of bikini photos sent to her husband by Lane.
“That did not happen and has never been reported to have happened,” said Tom [...]
February 7, 2008 – 5:16 pm
Investor Warren Buffett* said at a press event on Wednesday that the the US dollar would be “worth less” if the country continues to run a deficit. Unfortunately, a Dow Jones wire story reported him as saying it would be “worthless.” Buffett then called up CNBC this morning to clarify his statement, which had already [...]
February 7, 2008 – 8:00 am
In a Feb. 2 story about a settlement in lawsuits stemming from the deadly 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, The Associated Press reported erroneously that dozens of people and companies sued because of the fire. Hundreds of people filed lawsuits against dozens of people and companies. Link
February 1, 2008 – 8:52 am
Agence France Press mistakenly declared that Shaker Heights, a relatively tony suburb of Cleveland, was being hit hard by the mortgage crisis. It had meant to refer to Mount Pleasant. After noticing its error, AFP killed and replaced the story. But if you want to see the kind of reaction generated by the original piece, [...]
January 18, 2008 – 8:00 am
In a story that appeared in yesterday’s 24 hours, The Canadian Press erroneously reported that Peel Regional Police Const. J.P. Valade said the 16-year-old victim of a stabbing at a Brampton high school was stabbed four times in the neck and side. In fact, that information did not come from Valade.
January 16, 2008 – 8:00 am
As a result of wrong information provided by Reuters, singer Keyshia Cole was mistakenly identified as Mary J. Blige in a photo published Jan. 14. The Star regrets the error. Link (goes to Toronto Star correction)
January 7, 2008 – 8:00 am
In a Dec. 9 story about the Church of Scientology International in Germany, The Associated Press erroneously reported that German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that intelligence agencies were moving to ban the group and that he called it an unconstitutional organization. Instead, Schaeuble was quoted by the paper as saying [...]
December 19, 2007 – 8:00 am
In a Dec. 15 obituary about Diane Middlebrook, The Associated Press erroneously reported the anniversary marked by the publication of her biography about the Roman poet Ovid. The book is expected to be published next year to coincide with the
2,000th anniversary of Ovid’s banishment from Rome, not his birth.
Thanks, Jim!
December 6, 2007 – 8:00 am
Daniel Radosh spotted this correction from AP:
This version CORRECTS word in company name to Ham, not Hand. Link
The story to which it was appended:
SYDNEY, Australia - Thieves stole 17.6 tons of ham and bacon from a warehouse and left behind a message busting the owners’ chops, police said Monday.
“Thanks,” the crooks daubed on a wall [...]
December 4, 2007 – 8:00 am
From Roy Greenaslade of the Guardian:
Last Tuesday I carried a report headlined 11 relatives of Iraqi journalist killed. It now transpires that the story, widely carried in the United States, was false. Dhia al-Kawaz, editor of the Jordan-based Asawat al-Iraq news agency, has since admitted that his claim that gunmen had killed 11 of his [...]
November 21, 2007 – 8:00 am
In yesterday’s Spectator, The Canadian Press erroneously reported that a Quebec company plans to use 30,000 diapers to create about 11,000 tonnes of diesel fuel. In fact, to create that amount of fuel, the company requires 30,000 tonnes of diapers, which is about one-quarter of the diapers that end up in landfills in Quebec yearly. [...]
