Tag Archives: npr

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

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Also tagged | Comments

The Iran photo manipulation corrections

July 14, 2008 – 8:00 am

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 front pages here.
Photo District News published a good story on Thursday, the day the photo was exposed:

…Photo editors in the U.S. variously blamed themselves and AFP, a respected photo agency, for not catching the photo.
“AFP should have caught it, really,” says Tim Rasmussen, assistant managing editor for photography at the Denver Post, which ran the photo on A1. “It should never have gotten past them.”
But another Post editor was miffed that he failed to catch it. “Oh, I hate days like this,” said Ken Lyons, the paper’s front-page photo editor. “It was right there in front of me. I should have seen it.” …
Catching some of the heat Thursday was Getty Images, which distributes AFP in the U.S. Getty director of photography Pancho Bernasconi says the AFP content arrives through an automatic feed and Getty does not edit it.
Some newspapers made it clear in their captions or credit lines that the photo was provided by the Iranian government. Others did not. The Denver Post ran the image as its lead art and credited it to AFP/Getty; the Baltimore Sun ran the photo on page 1 and credited it to Agence France Presse.
Early Thursday on the East Coast, more than 12 hours after the AFP image had been distributed, the Associated Press moved a nearly identical photo showing three missiles. It appears to have been photographed a fraction of a second apart from the AFP image. In a news story, the AP said it obtained the photo from the same Iranian Web site from which the AFP obtained theirs.
The first person to call foul on the photo appears to have been the political blog Little Green Footballs, which spotted the manipulation Wednesday. It took until Thursday for word to spread widely through sites like The Drudge Report and The New York Times. The AFP correction ran shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday on the East Coast.

UPDATE July 17: A reader wrote in to note that militaryphotos.net, not Little Green Footballs, was the first “to call foul” on the photo. You can read the post here. Thanks, Dominik!

And here are the corrections I’ve seen thus far (AFP corrected/retracted its image on Thursday):

On Page 1 Thursday, a photo released by the Iranian government accompanying a story about Iran’s test-firing of missiles was apparently digitally manipulated to include four missiles. Another image was released Thursday that shows three missiles. A story about the photo appears on Page 12. Link

A photograph of the test firing of missiles released by the public relations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sepah News, which ran on the front page of yesterday’s editions of The Sun had been digitally altered. The Sun was unaware of this manipulation. The photograph above is the correct image, which shows one missile remaining in the launcher. Link

Iran missile test: A photo from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard that accompanied an article in Thursday’s Section A about the country’s test of medium- and long-range missiles apparently was digitally altered to show four missiles successfully launching. It later became clear that the original photo showed only three rockets. News coverage on A1 and A4. Link

A related correction:

In some broadcasts, we did not note that the Web site Little Green Footballs had posted an item Wednesday evening declaring that the photograph of the Iranian missile launch had been doctored — before The New York Times published its analysis Thursday morning. Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Fabrication, Government, Major Errors, Newspapers, Radio, Wire service | Also tagged , , , | Comments

Opposites retract

July 1, 2008 – 8:00 am

The audio for this story incorrectly describes House speaker Nancy Pelosi as “a chief backer of the war funding.” In fact, Speaker Pelosi voted against the Iraq war spending bill. Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Comments

Snoopy and Charlie Brown (don’t) land on the moon

May 19, 2008 – 8:00 am

In the broadcast version of this story, we stated, “The Apollo 10 astronauts even named their command module ‘Charlie Brown,’ and the lunar rover ‘Snoopy.’ It may be telling that Charlie got to orbit the moon, but Snoopy landed there, while Charlie just circled in darkness.” The modules were named “Charlie Brown” and “Snoopy,” but neither landed on the moon. It’s also incorrect to describe Snoopy as a “lunar rover.” The correct term is “lunar module.” Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Comments

UPDATED: Wrong about Rev. Wright

April 1, 2008 – 8:00 am

In this story, a voter suggests that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has made anti-gay comments. NPR has not been able to find any evidence that Wright made such comments. Wright has supported the ordination of gay clergy. He also started a singles group for gay and lesbian members at his church. Our story should have acknowledged this. Link

UPDATE April 11, 2008: Alicia Shepard, the NPR ombudsman, wrote an column that details how this error made it to air. From her piece:

Jason Carlson was driving home listening to All Things Considered (ATC) on March 24 when he heard a gay man say he would not vote for Sen. Barack Obama because the senator’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was anti-gay.
That didn’t gibe with what Carlson, an Evanston, Ill. high school science teacher, knew about Wright. Later, Carlson did a quick Internet search using “Wright” and “anti-gay,” and discovered that what he had heard on NPR was, in fact, wrong. In a piece edited before broadcast, ATC had put something on air without checking to make sure it was correct.
Carlson immediately emailed NPR pointing out how much Wright has done for gays and lesbians. “With the craziness that is already swirling around this campaign, diligence is required on everyone’s part to keep the misinformation to a minimum,” his email said.
Wright has some controversial stands but he is not anti-gay. Wright’s record of outreach to gays and lesbian is extensive and well-documented in the public record.
The three-minute segment that drew Carlson’s ire was filed by veteran public radio reporter Joel Rose, who was reporting on the Obama campaign’s effort to recruit independent voters to register as Democrats for the upcoming Pennsylvania primary. As Independent voter Chuck Aronson was switching to the Democratic party, he said Obama lost his vote because of Wright, whom he mistakenly described as anti-gay.
“That actually really upset me, being a gay man and hearing like anti-gay and anti- all kinds of things,” Aronson said in the ATC piece. “It’s really — you know, I just — it sort of disappointed me that he just, at some point, didn’t get up and go, you know what, I just really don’t want to be a part of it.”
In using this tape in his story, Rose made the kind of mistake even an experienced journalist can make, but shouldn’t: he assumed. He assumed that Aronson knew what he was talking about.
“Chuck (Aronson) was so sure of himself that I got distracted by his enthusiasm,” said Rose in an email. “I’m still glad he was in the story because he helps make the point that not all former independents are planning to vote for Obama. But clearly I should have been more selective about what was in the quote (and what wasn’t).”
…

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Also tagged | Comments

More on NPR’s “dark continent” apology

March 3, 2008 – 8:00 am

Over the past couple of weeks, Regret readers have been debating the necessity of this NPR apology:

In our newscast at 9:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 14, the phrase “dark continent” was used by one of our newscasters in reference to President Bush’s trip to Africa. This was totally inappropriate and offensive, and we apologize. We will apologize on air in the 9:30 a.m. ET newscast on Monday, Feb. 18, for allowing such an antiquated and pejorative term to air.

Alicia C. Shepard, the NPR ombudsman, has now weighed in with her opinion. From her column:

…Did NPR owe an apology?
After the apology ran, some listeners were infuriated, thinking it unnecessary, claiming that NPR had succumbed to political correctness.
“As much as I believe in racial sensitivity, I draw the line at torturing the language or censoring our use of it to accommodate the hypersensitivities of the ignorant,” wrote Don Howe, a corporate trainer in Los Angeles. “NPR has done its mainly informed and well-educated audience a disservice by caving into a grossly misplaced sense of liberal guilt. I only hope you don’t apologize the next time someone uses the word ‘niggardly’.”
Some may recall that in 1999, a white Washington, D.C. city government official resigned after he used the word niggardly in a budget discussion with staffers. While the word means miserly with no racial connotations, some incorrectly assume it derives from a certain word that is definitely out of bounds.
“I think the bottom line is that so many people use code words and phrases to express prejudice- because outright racism can get you fired from many jobs nowadays- that people are understandably suspicious of any turn of phrase which hints at a racial stereotype,” Eric Deggans, media critic for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times told NPR. “So the broadcaster may not be guilty of anything beyond some ignorance in anticipating how her words might sound. But writers and editors have to be a bit more careful about how these phrases sound.”
Some word meanings evolve over time and become accepted. Others like “dark continent” retain their power.
“Even when not consciously selected, language that diminishes one group at the expense of others wields great power in naturalizing unequal power relations,” Prof. Martin A. Berger, who specializes in gender and race at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told NPR. ” It’s less useful to talk about ‘racist’ people, than to see how racialized patterns of thought and speech are structured into our lives.”
So should NPR have apologized?
Given the intense listener reaction, it would have been arrogant for NPR to ignore the use of the controversial term. But in not offering any serious explantion for its apology, NPR missed an opportunity for a broader discussion — on air, online, or both — about the power of language.

Given the interesting debate that has taken place on this site, Shepard’s last point is an excellent one.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Online, Radio | Also tagged , | Comments

NPR apologizes for calling Africa the “dark contintent”

February 18, 2008 – 8:00 am

In our newscast at 9:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 14, the phrase “dark continent” was used by one of our newscasters in reference to President Bush’s trip to Africa. This was totally inappropriate and offensive, and we apologize. We will apologize on air in the 9:30 a.m. ET newscast on Monday, Feb. 18, for allowing such an antiquated and pejorative term to air. Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Also tagged | Comments

Lessons in geography etc.

January 18, 2008 – 8:00 am

In the broadcast version of this commentary, Daniel Schorr referred to a human rights activist having trouble delivering a petition to the American Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. According to The Washington Post, which reported the story, the incident occurred in Bahrain, not the United Arab Emirates. Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Also tagged | Comments

Hoover who?

November 12, 2007 – 8:00 am

Early versions of the radio story mistakenly identified the former FBI director. His name is J. Edgar Hoover. Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Radio | Also tagged , | Comments

Wait, Wait + Stephen Colbert + Regret the Error

October 23, 2007 – 8:00 am

Equals a marriage made in heaven as far as we’re concerned.
On Sunday’s edition of Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, the wonderful news quiz show that airs on NPR, Stephen Colbert was brought on to do the Not My Job segment. To our joy, the program decided to quiz him about media errors, and it used the oh-so-soon-to-be-released Regret the Error book as its source. Colbert managed to get two out of three questions correct, while also providing some of his usual brand of entertainment in the interview prior to the quiz. To listen, go here and then click on the “Not My Job: Stephen Colbert” link on the page.
Trust us , you’ll enjoy it. Perhaps it will even inspire you to purchase the book. We’re just sayin’…

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Regret Articles | Also tagged , , | Comments Off

The corrections go audio

January 30, 2007 – 8:00 am

Our recent post about the state of online corrections was published before an inspired project by the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper is, as far as we know, the first newspaper in the world to introduce audio corrections. Last week it launched Correct Me If I’m Wrong, a regular podcast that will feature selected voicemail corrections/comments left by readers.
“Almost every day, The Chronicle hears from readers (and some non-readers),” says the paper. “Most of these comments — voicemail, email and letters — don’t make it into our letters column. But they can be unusually passionate, irate, confounding and creative.”
The acknowledgment that so many pieces of reader communication — voicemail, email, letters — end up going unacknowledged or unprinted is key. For a long time, the space limitations of the letters to the editor column left many readers out in the cold. The online world can offer ways for newspapers and other media outlets to give these communications a place, to give their readers a voice. Allowing online comments on articles, putting additional letters online, publishing corrections within articles online (and maybe in the future crediting readers who spot errors?), and now broadcasting voicemail corrections — these are all important ways to engage readers and allow them to contribute and have their voice heard.
The first installment of the Chronicle’s podcast is frankly nothing short of hilarious. And it’s a valid correction: the reader, who gets more than a little enraged, points out that the paper referred to a “pilotless drone,” which is of course redundant. Drones are by definition unmanned aircraft.
This is a fantastic update of the correction for the online world and we hope it starts a trend. One thing to keep in mind: the paper shouldn’t only choose the most irate/humorous reader voicemail corrections and comments. By all means, offer the choice messages that give the public a sense of the kind of abuse journalists sometimes face. But the danger is this could turn into something that mocks readers if the paper ignores some of the more sincere offerings. So, as always, the process matters. We also wonder if the paper asks the readers for permission to use
their messages before broadcasting them? (We emailed in an interview
request last week and hope to hear back soon.) Based on comments given to the New York Times, it appears the paper has its heart in the right place. Let’s hope its microphone will follow.

Putting voice mail messages from readers online was the idea of Phil
Bronstein, the vice president and editor of The Chronicle. “This is
about listening to your readers,” he said. “Newspapers used to be a lot
more lively than they are now, and they could definitely stand some of
that.” If readers respond well, he added, the paper might add “dramatic
readings” of some of the letters that come in.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Newspapers, Regret Articles | Also tagged , | Comments

Attention journalists everywhere: James Dobson is not a minister

May 19, 2006 – 8:01 am

Our obsessive cataloging of corrections occasionally enables us to spot a pattern. Whether it’s the failure of newspapers to identify someone they initially misidentified in a photo, or the inability of newspapers to accurately report on, well, newspapers, we sometimes feel as though we’re listening to a broken record. Such was the case when we spotted this correction in the Washington Post:

A May 14 article about Sen. John McCain’s speech at Liberty University incorrectly referred to the chairman of Focus on the Family as the Rev. James Dobson. Dobson is not an ordained minister.

We knew we’d read that one before. (The GetReligion blog also felt a sense of déjà vu.) So we fired up Nexis, did a search for “James Dobson and correction,” and were less than shocked to turn up more than 20 similar corrections going back to 1989. What publication ran that 1989 correction, you ask? The Washington Post. GetReligion also spotted two recent Newsweek corrections that we have included below. So here they are in all their glory: The James Dobson Is Not A Reverend/Minister/Evangelical Corrections. Bow your heads and pray we never see another one.

Roll Call
May 11, 2006
In the May 10 edition of “Heard on the Hill,” James Dobson of Focus on the Family was misidentified as a reverend. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in the field of child development.

The San Diego Union-Tribune
April 27, 2006
A headline April 20 with a story about the 70th birthday of Dr. James Dobson misidentified him as an evangelist. A child psychologist and best-selling author, he is the founder and chairman of Focus on Family, a nonprofit Christian ministry that helps families.

Newsweek
Feb. 20, 2006
In the Feb. 13 article “God’s Green Soldiers,” we incorrectly identified James Dobson as a reverend. He in fact has a Ph.D. in child psychology and goes by Dr. Dobson. Newsweek regrets the [error].

Wall Street Journal
November 5, 2005
Correction of Oct 28 page-one article; James Dobson is psychologist and chairman of Focus on the Family

Sun-Sentinel
August 17, 2005
A July 12 column by Michael Mayo on Page 1B of the Local section, about the Broward schools SpongeBob video controversy, contained two errors. Activist James Dobson is not a reverend, and Dobson did not assert that the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants is gay.

Newsweek
Aug. 8, 2005
In our Aug. 1 issue, a sidebar on lobbying groups (“A
User’s Guide to the Groups”) incorrect[ly] identifies James Dobson as a
reverend. He in fact has a Ph.D. in child psychology and goes by Dr.
Dobson. Newsweek regrets the error.

Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
August 6, 2005
Headline clarified: In a headline in Thursday’s editions, James Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization that focuses on Christian values in the home, was called a minister. Although he runs a ministry, his degrees are in psychology as well as marriage and family counseling.

The Cincinnati Enquirer
June 10, 2005
Dr. James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, is a psychologist, author and radio broadcaster. A June 3 story on the 2nd Congressional District race misidentified him.

The Kansas City Star
March 9, 2005
An item in The Buzz on Sunday incorrectly referred to James Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family, as “the Rev. James Dobson.”

St. Petersburg Times
January 29, 2005
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson is a psychologist and a marriage, family and child counselor. A column Friday stated an incorrect profession.

The San Francisco Chronicle
October 3, 2004
Articles on March 14 and Sept. 19 erroneously used the title “the Rev.” for James Dobson, the founder of the Focus on the Family. Dobson is not ordained.

Slate Magazine
January 23, 2004
In a Jan. 19 Chatterbox column, Timothy Noah erroneously referred to the Rev. James Dobson. Dobson is actually a lay Ph.D. (in child development), not an ordained minister.

Chicago Tribune
September 4, 2003
In a story Friday on Page 8 of the main news section, James Dobson, head of the Colorado-based family advocacy group Focus on the Family was misidentified with the title “Rev.” and called an evangelist. He is neither an ordained minister nor an evangelist.

Austin American-Statesman
February 21, 2003
Page B1 of Sunday’s Metro & State section, a story about religious groups debating the issue of homosexuality misidentified James Dobson, founder and president of Focus on the Family. He is not a minister.

The Montgomery Advertiser
November 9, 2002
Setting it straight: A story in the Oct. 13 edition of the Montgomery Advertiser used an incorrect professional title in reference to James Dobson, founder of the Focus on the Family ministry. Dobson is not a reverend. He holds a doctorate in child development.

Wall Street Journal
May 11, 2001
Correction of May 9 Politics & Policy article, James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, oversees a radio ministry, but he is not an ordained minister.

The Nation
October 30, 2000
In Alexander Cockburn’s October 2 “Beat the Devil,” Focus on the Family’s president, James Dobson, was erroneously referred to as a “Reverend.”

Kansas City Star
November 23, 1996
Because of a reporter’s error, religious broadcaster James Dobson was identified as a minister in an Oct. 27 profile of Sam Brownback, successful candidate for U.S. Senate. Dobson is a licensed psychologist. The profile also implied that the organization Dobson heads, Focus on the Family, supported Brownback’s candidacy. Dobson made a personal endorsement of Brownback; Focus on the Family does not endorse candidates.

Chicago Tribune
October 31, 1995
An editorial Thursday incorrectly referred to the head of Focus on the Family as Rev. James Dobson. He is not a minister.

Orange County Register
March 2, 1993
James Dobson is a Christian counselor. Because of a reporting error, Dobson was misidentified in a story in the Metro section of Monday’s editions of The Orange County Register.

The Houston Chronicle
January 19, 1993
A story Sunday incorrectly described James Dobson, the head of a Colorado Springs, Colo., evangelical ministry, as a member of the clergy. He is a psychologist.

The Washington Post
June 13, 1989
In a report yesterday about the Moral Majority, James Dobson was identified incorrectly as a minister. He has a PhD in clinical psychology.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Magazines, Major Errors, Newspapers, Online, Regret Articles | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off