Regrettable Errors: Media Mistakes
The headline that made heads turn.
In November 3, 1948, voters woke up to the Chicago Daily Tribune headline: DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN! Later that day they found out the 33rd president was Harry Truman, their current vice president. The paper's editorial staff thought that Dewey had an overwhelming majority and predicted rather than waiting for all the precincts to report their results. The truth: In fact, that election was extremely close-Truman won by only 6000 votes in Ohio. Deadlines are deadlines, but the Tribune will forever be known by that error. When in doubt leave it out. But if you're sure, double check anyway.
A picture's worth 1000 words (and dollars).
In 2005, Cameron Diaz sued the National Enquirer for publishing a photo and then suggesting the man in the photo and Diaz were having an affair. The tabloid correctly identified the individuals but assumed a romance. The truth: The married MTV producer, Shane Nickerson was just hugging Diaz goodbye after a business lunch. Diaz won her suit for a substantial amount of damages. Men and women can be just friends.
Too emotional.
January 3, 2006, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (as well as other publications) proclaimed 12 of 13 miners alive and well after a horrendous explosion and cave-in in a West Virginia mine. Their families breathed a sigh of relief. The truth: The next day they discovered all the miners were dead but one-the exact opposite of what the media reported. The reporters misheard two tired rescue workers, who never made an on-the-record statement, but were exchanging conflicting information. Everybody wanted a miracle. When emotions run, it's always good to wait for the official word from someone in authority.
The biggest mistake never caught.
Forget-me-not panties were a weird match of high tech and lingerie. A GPS chip was sewn in underwear to "catch" cheating wives, girlfriends and check on the whereabouts of headstrong daughters. The product was featured on a website that in 3 weeks had over 1 million hits, appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan (Australia), Rolling Stone and NBC and CBS radio news. And yet no one ever had the product in their hands-no photos, no money no specs-nothing. The truth: It was all a hoax. The two women who created the website did it as an art project. They even created a fake PR company to handle the media attention. No wonder they never returned anyone's calls. If it's not in your hands-then it probably doesn't exist.
For You:
Great newspaper error resource:
http://www.regrettheerror.com
Related Tags: writing, mistakes, errors, media, lawsuit, journalism, facts, newspapers, hoax, checking facts
Bernadette Sukley is a freelance researcher/writer/editor with an eye towards the quirky. Her work has appeared in Sports Illustrated for Women, ABROAD and Prevention.com. Need to check that oddball fact? Or just love the unique? She does too. Contact: novelist2be@excite.com and http://thequirkywriter.blogspot.com/
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Using Weights With Yoga - 3 Reasons Why You Should Be Doing It
By putting these two together that you are fulfilling the wants and desires of your respective syste - 3 Elements Of Your Classified Ad That Are Key For Your Success
Classified advertising is still an effective way to promote your products and services. When doing c - 2 Ways To Make Your Next Classified Ad Work
If you want to have success with classified advertising, then you will want to generate a lead. With - What Not To Do When Running Classified Ads
Classified ads are a great way to build your business brand and to get qualified prospects to your b - 6 Tips For Writing Winning Classified Ads
Are you currently running classified ads with little to no response? If so then you may benefit from - Best Ways To Market Your Product
Marketing the products properly to improve the sales rates is very important in any kind of business - Find The Best Digital Printing Services Company
Aside from price considerations, other aspects you need to look into include the company's turnaroun - Choosing Eco-friendly Designs For A Kitchen Cabinet - What Are The Advantages?
You may like the idea of having a bamboo kitchen cabinet if you have an environmentally friendly att - Choosing A Kitchen Cabinet - What You Need To Pay Attention Before Buying
You can turn you kitchen, which is the most often used place in your home, more appealing by install - Supply Promotional Bags To Extend Your Client Base
Although plastic shopping bags and tote bags are the most liked variety, it is worth noting that the
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Color Psychology - Logo Design
When we see colors, we connect with them instantly on a subliminal level. No one can be sure if our - Phonewords - 13, 1300 And 1800 Numbers As Marketing Tools
In the Concise Oxford Dictionary, image is described as "the character or reputation of a person or - How My Father Treated His High Blood Pressure Naturally?
My Father treated his high blood pressure problem in a natural way recently, without any doctor's tr - The Secret to Effective Business Card Marketing
Marketing a business may come in different forms. You may opt for print advertising or cash in on th - Putting Junkmail to Good Use in Your Company
The junkmail that you receive is just tipping over with treasure for you to use in your company. It - Create A Natural Looking Stone Wall With Joint Compound And A Stencil
Interior stone walls are expensive, tedious to install, and needless to say; a back breaking experie - Eyes Wide on the Internet
How could I get tired of advertising seminars or conferences? Not only can I count on scoring - Sports Betting Online
Online betting is just another rapidly growing diversion in the visual community. You will bet on th - Custom Banners Have the Power to Convince Target Audience
Are you eager to inform the masses about your new launch? It is quite obvious that you would really - Quartz Infrared Heaters: What's Not To Like?
In case you haven't heard, quartz infrared heaters are the "hot" item this heating season. Although