In a story Dec. 14 about military sexual abuse, The Associated Press reported erroneously that an attorney representing military members and veterans said she was surprised by the dismissal of a lawsuit. Susan Burke said she was “not surprised.” Link Report an error
In a Dec. 11 story, The Associated Press erroneously quoted President Obama as saying: “There are going to be people who say, `This is the socialist Obama and he’s come out of the closet.’” That remark was made by 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft, not the president. Link Report an error
In a Dec. 4 hometown lead on the NFL game between Carolina and Tampa Bay, The Associated Press erroneously quoted Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris following a 38-19 loss. The coach, referring to what Morris described as poor play by his team, said: “I can take getting beat by a better football team, which they were.” [...]
A retraction from AP: The Associated Press has withdrawn the 12th and 13th Ld-Writethrus of its story about the Natalie Wood investigation. The story quoted Christopher Walken telling Washington, D.C. sports talk radio station ESPN980 about his recollections from the night that Wood died. The station now says that it was a hoax involving a [...]
In a Nov. 3 story about a Texas judge who was secretly videoed beating his teenage daughter, The Associated Press misquoted the judge’s ex-wife. She blamed the violence on his addiction not his addition. Link Report an error
In stories July 12 and Oct. 27 on the extradition case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over claims of sexual misconduct, The Associated Press reported that his attorney, Ben Emmerson, said in July that the women involved in the case may have found sex with his client “disrespectful, discourteous or disturbing,” but added that it [...]
Describing Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics biennial a piece said that “Portmeirion’s Staffordshire factory . . . now produces 140,000 pots a day”. That should have been 140,000 pots a week (Stoke inspired as it reclaims china trade from far east, 3 October, page 11). In an Oct. 21 story about the 1940 massacre of Polish officers and [...]
In an Oct. 18 story about the Scream Awards, The Associated Press misspelled the first name of Pee-wee Herman as Pee Wee. Link Report an error
The original version of this story erroneously reported that singer Stevie B was hauled off stage during a concert at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., and arrested for failure to pay child support. Police said he was arrested after his show, as he was leaving the arena. The original article saying he was arrested [...]
In a Sept. 8 story about a South African girl with progeria, The Associated Press erroneously reported that Ontlametse Phalatse is the first black child diagnosed with the aging disease. The Progeria Research Foundation said it is aware of two other cases of black children diagnosed with progeria who have died. The AP also erroneously [...]
In an Aug. 30 story about agriculture damage from Hurricane Irene, relying on information from the Maryland Department of Agriculture on poultry deaths, The Associated Press reported erroneously that about 30,000 birds had been killed in that state. The department now says no birds died as a result of the storm. On Thursday, a department [...]
In Today in History for Aug. 11, the Thought for Today omitted the name of the British poet who said, “Journalism is literature in a hurry.” The poet was Matthew Arnold (1822-1888). Link Report an error
In a July 30 story about Israel becoming a haven for Jewish-American basketball players, The Associated Press erroneously identified basketball player David Blu’s late mother as African-American and non-Jewish. She was white and Jewish. Link Report an error
In the initial version of a July 31 story about the Christian background of Anders Behring Breivik, The Associated Press misstated the title of an upcoming book about religion and terrorism. The correct title is “Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in the Post-Osama Era,” not post-Obama era. Link Report an error
In a story published in Thursday’s Tribune, The Associated Press reported erroneously that William Diaz-Wassmer had been convicted of raping, killing and robbing a Livingston woman and then setting her house on fire. Diaz-Wassmer was not convicted of rape. Link Report an error
In a story about former first lady Betty Ford’s death, The Associated Press incorrectly identified one of the speakers who will deliver a eulogy at her California funeral. The speaker will be Geoffrey Mason, who is affiliated with the Betty Ford Center, not Jeffrey MacKie-Mason, a University of Michigan dean. Link Report an error
In a story June 20 about retired NFL players discussing a class-action lawsuit against the league demanding better benefits, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Joe DeLamielleure limped to the podium to state his case and then detailed his lengthy resume of surgeries. DeLamielleure has never had surgery and does not walk with a limp. [...]
In a June 7 story, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a Syrian-American lesbian blogger who criticized the Syrian government on a website had been arrested in Damascus. Tom MacMaster, 40, an American graduate student in Scotland, announced June 12 at the website that he made up the persona, wrote the postings and that the [...]
In stories Feb. 19 and 20 about protests at the Wisconsin Capitol, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Dr. Lou Sanner said he wrote hundreds of doctor’s notes for protesters. Sanner said he wrote 18 notes, and that hundreds of people approached him and other doctors seeking notes. Link Report an error
In a story April 29 featuring updates about the royal wedding, The Associated Press erroneously identified a woman dressed as a bride and holding a sign saying “Will, it’s not too late!” as Brenda Hunt-Stevenson. It was not her. Link Report an error
Business Insider broke the news today that the Associated Press was hoodwinked by a hoax press release claiming that GE had agreed to give its $3.8 billion 2010 tax refund to the U.S. government. From the fake release: GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt has informed the Obama administration that the company will be gifting its entire [...]
In a Jan. 27 story about the Better Place electric car project, The Associated Press erroneously reported that Better Place has raised $700 billion. The correct figure is $700 million. Link And: In a Jan. 26 story about President Obama's tours of Wisconsin businesses, The Associated Press erroneously reported the size of a small business [...]
In a story Jan. 17 about winners of Golden Globe Awards in television, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the miniseries "Carlos" was about a drug kingpin. The TV movie was about a terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal. Link Report an error
In a story Jan. 18 about changes at the Playboy television channel, The Associated Press reported erroneously about an upcoming show titled "Sex Dream Makeover." The show's title is "Sextreme Makeover." Link Report an error
In a Jan. 15 story about a prosecution witness in the Perugia murder trial of U.S. college student Amanda Knox, The Associated Press, relying on information from a lawyer, erroneously reported that the witness, Antonio Curatolo, had been convicted on a drug charge. Curatolo has been ordered to stand trial on a drug charge, but [...]
