Regrettable Errors: Media Mistakes


by Bernadette Sukley - Date: 2007-03-07 - Word Count: 431 Share This!

Because stories are never free from passion, it's no wonder journalists and writers make costly (and embarrassing) errors. Here are a few examples.

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/

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