Tag Archives: news & observer

Choose those pseudonyms carefully

When the letter criticizing the person who had tossed some litter from Char-Grill was published March 24, we noted that we had changed the offender’s name (as recorded on an order slip that was found by the letter-writer). Our intent, as explained in an editor’s note, was to avoid implicating others who might have the [...]

Slightly different

A report Friday in the City & State section about an anti-war rally on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus misquoted Iraq war veteran Jason Hurd. The story quoted Hurd as saying, “I went to Iraq to help people, but instead I ended up shooting civilians.” Hurd did not say that he shot civilians but spoke about [...]

Cross at the crossword

Readers, you’re right. The crossword puzzle in Tuesday’s Life, etc. section contained an error. The solution to 37 across is “ultramodern,” not “untramodern.” A proofreader at Reed Brennan Media Associates works through the puzzles to find such errors before publication, but she missed this one. Reed Brennan is the company that edits the crossword puzzle.

Half right

A story on the front of Saturday’s City & State section incorrectly identified a Salisbury lawyer cited for contempt of court for reading Maxim magazine in Rowan County District Court. His name is Todd Paris, not Todd Bird. Link

News & Observer updates its corrections policy

In a recent column, Ted Vaden, public editor of the Raleigh News & Observer, calls errors “the low-grade virus of newspapers — always there, mostly benign, sometimes flaring up in maddening eruptions of inaccuracy.” Vaden offers space to a loyal reader who complains that the paper’s corrections don’t pass the “recycle bin” test, meaning “Don’t [...]

Was he hunting for weeds?

A front-page photo caption Tuesday said Bob Hardiman of Clayton was treasure hunting with a metal detector. He was actually using a garden tool. Link

North Carolina papers apologize — almost 120 years later

We’re coming a bit late to this, but it requires a mention. The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer recently produced special reporting packages about race riots that erupted in 1898. And both papers ran editorials that apologized for their part in the awful events of that year. The Charlotte Observer’s apology is here.
It echoes [...]