Hedge fund partner masks activities by using several aliases
From the
New York Times:
An article and picture caption in Business Day on Thursday about a proxy fight at the H.J. Heinz Company each gave an incorrect spelling for the surname of a founding partner of Trian, the investment firm mounting the proxy contest. He is Ed Garden — not Gardiner or Gordon. (Go to Article)The article also misspells the name of the corporate governance expert Neil Minow (one "n").
newspapers,
media,
errors,
business,
New York Times
Call off the suicide watch for Mets fans in Houston
From the
Houston Chronicle:
•David Wright of the New York Mets was not traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, as reported on Page C8 in some editions Saturday. Philadelphia's David Bell was traded to the Brewers.Haven't we Mets fans suffered enough over the years without enduring mistakes like these? If only they would publish a correction to the
Scott Kazmir trade.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
sports
Georgia Tech just can't get any love from the New York Times
From the
New York Times:
Published: July 30, 2006An article last Sunday about the serious video-game movement misstated the university that employs Ian Bogost, the author of a book on the games. He is an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, not the George Institute of Technology. (Go to Article)and
Published: April 24, 2006
An article in some copies on Friday about the arrest of an engineering student, Syed Haris Ahmed, on a charge of material support of terrorism misstated the formal name of his school, Georgia Tech. It is the Georgia Institute of Technology, not Georgia Tech University.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
education
Jumping the gun
From the
Austin American-Statesman:
A story on Tuesday's Metro & State cover about a non-profit car sharing organization mistakenly reported that Jessica Cassidy and Jeff Strunk were married.The
full story makes clear that they are boyfriend and girlfriend.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
romance
Photo captioner also overcome by California heat
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Weather photo: A photo of a man who had been overcome by heat was accompanied by the wrong caption in some editions of Thursday's California section. The incorrect caption described a baby in a crib with an ice pack; the caption should have said Fresno Fire Department workers were assisting Ryan Nale, 32, who blacked out on the roof of his business while working to fix an air conditioner.newspapers,
media,
errors,
weather
Apple uses a loaded homophone
From the
Miami Herald:
An article on July 4 on the front page about the iPod repair business quoted Natalie Kerris, an Apple spokeswoman, as saying the iPod is designed to last four years. Kerris says she said the iPod was designed to last ''for'' years.newspapers,
media,
errors,
technology
Rob a credit union? Don't worry about the NC Bankers' Association
From the
Raleigh News-Observer:
A news brief on Page 3B Thursday about a Coastal Federal Credit Union branch robbery incorrectly reported that the N.C. Bankers Association is offering a reward in the case. The association offers rewards for information about robberies of banks, not credit unions.newspapers,
media,
errors,
crime
Electricity lesson
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Power transmission: A graphic in Tuesday's Section A about the role of transformers in distributing power to homes referred to current being stepped up to hundreds of thousands of volts on its way from the generating plant to a receiving station. The voltage is stepped up in that process. Current is measured in amperes, not volts, and it is reduced in that process.Believers in Ohm's Law can breathe a sigh of relief. By the way,
here's the source the Times misquoted when discussing stepping up voltage for long-distance transmission.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
science
Perfectionism department
From the
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Because of an editing error, a story on Page B2 Sunday listed the wrong grade of tin cans that hoboes used for cooking, laundry and, sometimes, toilets. They used No. 10 tin cans.And thanks to all those hobos who emailed to point out the error.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
history
This editor last followed NFL football in 1987
From the
New York Times:
Because of an editing error, a sports chart on Sunday previewing the NFL teams’ preparations for training camps gave an incorrect nickname in some copies for one team in the National Football Conference West. It is the St. Louis Rams, not the Cardinals. (Go to Chart)newspapers,
media,
errors,
sports
Don't expect a New Hampshirite to tell you he's the wrong Bill Gardner
From the
New York Times:
Editor's Note An article on Sunday reported on efforts by the Democratic Party to revise its election-year calendar for 2008 to include an early caucus in Nevada and an early primary in South Carolina. It said that William M. Gardner, secretary of state for New Hampshire, was reached at his home on Saturday and said, “Do not call me here,” and hung up the telephone when the reporter tried to get comment on how these changes might affect his state’s first-in-the-nation primary.
On Monday, Mr. Gardner called the reporter and said he had never spoken to him Saturday. He also said the phone number the reporter had used was not his home number. The reporter had identified himself to the person who did answer the phone, had asked “Is this Mr. Gardner?” and had been told “Yes, this is Bill.” Later the reporter left a message at the same number, explaining why he was calling, but received no response by deadline. The reporter assumed he had reached the correct Bill Gardner, who lives in Manchester, but had actually called a Bill Gardner who lives in Rochester.
The article also misidentified the change proposed for Nevada at one point. It would be a caucus held on the Saturday between the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. It would not be a primary election. (Go to Article)
newspapers,
media,
errors,
politics
Rewriting musical history
From the
Los Angeles Times:
John Lennon: An article in Section A on Saturday about Robert Hilburn's memories of nearly 40 years as the Times' pop music critic referred to John Lennon being a child in London during World War II. Lennon grew up in Liverpool.Come on, now. Memories can be hazy, especially those of long-time rock critics. But didn't the editor who worked on this piece know Lennon was from Liverpool?
newspapers,
media,
errors,
music
Think long and hard before moving to Moscow
From the
Baltimore Sun:
An article in Friday's editions of The Sun about the lack of hot water in Moscow incorrectly reported the number of years it will take to upgrade the city's water system. The correct amount of time needed to provide hot water year-round is 13 years.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
Russia
What's in a name? #7
From the
Sacramento Bee:
In early editions Monday, a photo caption on Page A1 misidentified the winner of the Tour de France as Floyd Lewis instead of Floyd Landis.He followed seven-time Tour de France winner Vance Armstrong.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
sports
Give me the seashore print and an "I LOVE MOM" on the right forearm
From the
Philadelphia Inquirer:
A July 9 Travel story about Ocean City, Md., referred to the Ocean Gallery. The art gallery does not sell T-shirts or tattoos.Based on checking out the
Ocean Gallery's web site, adding a tattoo parlor might class up the joint.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
art
Blogger steps in it
Since I posted about Jef Richards's quote this morning, something has been bugging me.
What if the quote was accurate?
So, I asked the source, Dr. Richards. Did he really mean "sole" instead of "soul"? His response:
Yes, that's what I said. "Sole," as in the bottom of the shoe.
- Jef
So, a correction is due. I regret the error.
blogs,
errors
It gets stepped on every single day
From the
American Marketing Association daily newsletter:
Quote of the Day "Advertising is the art and sole of capitalism. It captures a moment of time through the lens of commerce, reflecting and affecting our lives, making us laugh and cry, while simultaneously giving traction to the engine that propels this free market economy forward into the future."
- Jef I. Richards
This error was carried forward from the place where they found the quote,
brainyquote.com. Dr. Richards, from what I read about him, likes a pun, but I doubt his original quote had this one in it.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
advertising
What to do about medical journal authors' conflicts of interest?
The Wall Street Journal discusses how medical journals are dealing with the fallout of several scandals related to the publication of journal articles without revealing the ties authors had with companies who would benefit from the findings (and their publication).
We
posted about the latest occurrence of this phenomenon (from the journal Neuropsychopharmacology) the other day. Now, we're not naive. We expect hack PR-oriented pieces when we read the trade press. But in a peer-reviewed journal? It's shameful.
The Journal cites scholars who recommend some type of sanction for authors who don't reveal the conflicts of interest they have. That's fine, but beyond that, how about journals carefully scrutinizing whether they should publish research from conflicted sources? How does that sound?
newspapers,
media,
errors,
medicine
Wouldn't have missed it for the world, says Comptroller Schaefer
From the
Washington Post:
Correction to This ArticleA July 20 Metro article incorrectly said that Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer did not attend the J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake. Schaefer did make an appearance at the annual political event."You didn't see me? I was there, honest."
newspapers,
media,
errors,
politics
'Tis better to receive an email than to give one...
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Jack Abramoff: A July 1 article in Section A about a Justice Department report that said convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff had improperly obtained a secret file on the Pacific Island territories misidentified the author of an e-mail. It said Carl T.C. Gutierrez — the former governor of Guam — had sent Abramoff an e-mail calling the acting U.S. attorney for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Frederick A. Black, "a total commie…. We need to get this guy sniped out of there." The e-mail was written by Abramoff.Hmm... what do you think Mr. Gutierrez's reply was? Probably, it was "you shouldn't say mean things like that about my friend Frederick Black" or something of the sort.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
politics
Horticulture department
From the
Chicago Tribune:
In the July 14 Metro section, an illustration about ash trees incorrectly showed leaves attached to a branch. In fact, three to 11 leaflets form a leaf on a single stem, which is attached to a branch.
Want more information about what ash leaves look like? Check it out
here. Glad to be of service.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
nature
Additional pain & suffering: obituary errors #13
From the Los Angeles Times:
Spillane obituary: The obituary of detective fiction writer Mickey Spillane in Tuesday's Section A said he divorced his second wife, Sherri. Sherri Spillane was the plaintiff in the divorce.From the New York Times:
An obituary on Tuesday about the detective novelist Mickey Spillane misstated the given name of a surviving son. He is Ward Spillane, not Mark. The obituary also misspelled the given name of a surviving daughter. She is Caroline Hill, not Carolyn. It also omitted some survivors. They also include a third stepchild, Mabry Simonetti of North Augusta, S.C., 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. (Go to Article)Mr. Spillane has lived a full life. Rest in peace.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
obituaries
Another reason to hate "Executive Pursuits"
From the New York Times:
The Executive Pursuits column in Business Day on Saturday, about learning to surf, misspelled the surname of the rock star who is an aficionado of Ditch Plains Beach, a popular surfing spot in Montauk, N.Y. He is Jimmy Buffett, not Buffet. (Go to Article)I've weighed in on what I think of this column in an
earlier post. Time has done nothing to change my opinion. Harry, time to hang up the word processor and hit the beach full-time, dude.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
New York Times
JT Reese is still alive
From the Miami Herald:
An article on Page 1A Saturday incorrectly described J.T. Reese as deceased. He is, in fact, alive and golfing.I'm actually glad this article had an error (and not just for the sake of Mr. Reese, the taxidermist). The correction led me to the
article itself, which is a riot. It's a great mock-Carl-Hiassen piece on safecracking.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
weird
Is there a safe and effective treatment for conflict of interest?
The Wall Street Journal
reports the following:
A review of a new depression treatment published in a medical journal failed to disclose that the authors are consultants to the company that sells the treatment.The review piece in this month's Neuropsychopharmacology comes to favorable conclusions about the treatment, called vagus nerve stimulation....Of the nine authors, eight are academic researchers who are consultants for Cyberonics Inc., which makes the vagus nerve device. The ninth author is an employee of the company, which was disclosed....and, finally,
The first author of the article, Charles B. Nemeroff of Emory University, is also the editor of Neuropsychopharmacology.And guess what! The authors found the treatment to be effective.
I'm so depressed reading this that I'm going to head to my doctor for some vagus nerve stimulation. I'm certain that will help.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
medicine
Being there in person is so overrated
From the
Chicago Tribune:
- In Sunday's main news section, a story about the Chicago International Film Festival's Award to Steven Spielberg was misleading. The report was based on reporting from the arrivals of Spielberg and other celebrities before the event and did not include reporting from the event itself.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
entertainment
Middle-east reporters: always have the Bible handy as a reference
From the
Boston Globe:
Correction: Because of a reporting error, a Page One story yesterday about developments in the Middle East said Nazareth was where Christ was born. Christ was born in Bethlehem.OK, blame the reporter. But didn't the editor know this, or think to check?
newspapers,
media,
errors,
religion
Pakistan gets its props
From the
Wall Street Journal:
PAKISTAN has demonstrated nuclear-weapons capability. The Thinking Global column on July 11 incorrectly excluded the country when mentioning Asian nations with such capability.newspapers,
media,
errors,
geopolitics
In addition to feeling disoriented, she'd also be wet
From the
New York Times:
An article on July 2 about déjà vécu, a syndrome that causes a feeling similar to déjà vu, misstated the location of the city where one woman who suffers from it lives. Dover, Mass., is southwest of Boston, not east. (Go to Article)For the record, east of Boston is Boston Harbor.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
geography
With apologies to Roberto Clemente, Dave Parker, Bill Mazeroski, Barry Bonds, et. al.
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Baseball: An item in Saturday's Sports said outfielder
Jason Bay was the first
Pittsburgh Pirate position player to start an All-Star game since 1944. In fact, Bay was the first Pirate position player to start an All-Star game in Pittsburgh since 1944.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
sports
Retail dyslexia
From the
Los Angeles Times:
The Go-Go's: An
article in Friday's Calendar on the Go-Go's said that the band's song "Our Lips Are Sealed" was used in a Kmart ad this year and that "We Got the Beat" was used in an ad for Pizza Hut. "Our Lips Are Sealed" was used for Old Navy and "We Got the Beat" for Papa John's. In addition, the caption for a photo of the band in the 1980s identified
Gina Schock as
Elissa Bello.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
music,
advertising
Return of the Collyer Brothers
From the
New York Times:
A picture caption on July 5 about the cluttered Harlem brownstone in which the brothers Homer and Langley Collyer were found dead in 1947 misstated the departmental affiliation of an unidentified inspector shown pointing to a stairway piled high with boxes and newspapers. He worked for the Police Department, not the Fire Department. The inspector was identified when the same picture was published on Dec. 31, 2003, with an article in some copies about the pathology of compulsive hoarders. But the caption with that picture misspelled his surname. He was Thomas V. Boylan, not Boyland. (Go to Article)newspapers,
media,
errors,
New York
What's in a name? #6
From the
San Francisco Chronicle:
- In the Sporting Green on Wednesday, a college basketball report gave the wrong last name for Boston Globe sports writer Shira Springer. (7/13)
- In Friday's Sporting Green, an article about the A's gave the wrong date for an altercation this season between the A's and the Los Angeles Angels. It was May 2. Also Friday, the baseball notebook gave the wrong first name for Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano. (7/12)
- In Tuesday's Sporting Green, an article about the Giants and Minnesota Twins misspelled the last name of Twins pitcher Boof Bonser. (7/12)
OK, I see two patterns here. All names were messed up in the sports section, and all names were alliterative. I have no idea what this means. Perhaps I'll ask Boof Bonser.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
sports
Additional pain & suffering: obituary errors #12
From the Chicago Tribune:
- In Wednesday's obituary for Gerald Gidwitz [founder of Helene Curtis], his son James was omitted from the list of survivors. A corrected obituary appears in Thursday's Metro section.From the New York Times:
An obituary on Monday about Paul Nelson, a pioneering rock critic, misstated the cause of death in some copies. While his friend Steven Feltes initially said he had apparently died of starvation, he said later that a cause had not been determined. The New York City medical examiner’s office said yesterday that the cause was heart disease. The obituary also misstated the date of Mr. Nelson’s collaboration with Lester Bangs on a biography of Rod Stewart. The book was published in 1981, not 1988. (Go to Article)From the New York Times:
An obituary yesterday about Harold Olmo, a grape breeder and geneticist, misstated the location where he found what he considered to be the original wine grape vines growing wild. It was in mountains on the border of Iran and Afghanistan, not Iraq and Afghanistan. (Go to Article)newspapers,
media,
errors,
obituaries
Book-title bloat gets out of hand
From the
New York Times:
Because of an editing error, the David Carr column in Business Day on Monday, about Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue, misstated the title of a recent memoir by another prominent editor, Bonnie Fuller of Star magazine, whose public persona was compared with Ms. Wintour’s. It is “The Joys of Much Too Much: Go for the Big Life — the Great Career, the Perfect Gu and Everything Else You’ve Ever Wanted.” The working title was “From Geek to Oh My Goddess: How to Get the Big Career and the Big Love Life and the Big Family — Even if You Have a Big Loser Complex Inside.” (Go to Article)I'll talk more about this subject in my new book, "Title Bloat: How Book Titles Have Continually Gotten Longer and Longer to the Point That They Are No Longer Possible to Read Aloud in a Single Breath."
newspapers,
media,
errors,
books
Dallas Morning News corrupted corrections page: day 4
I submitted the following to the Morning News corrections reporting link today:
Your online corrections page (http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/dn/corrections/vitindex.html) is corrupted, and has been for over three days. It looks as if there is test data or nonsense data on the page. When will it be fixed?Thanks.I will let you know if (1) I get a response (as they promise) and (2) when the bad page is fixed.
newspapers,
media,
errors
Apparently everyone uses the same sources...
From the
Boston Globe:
Clarification: An obituary Thursday on Dr. Theodore Levitt, professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, said he had coined the word ``globalization." The business school said that although Dr. Levitt popularized the concept with ``The Globalization of Markets," an influential article he published in 1983 in the Harvard Business Review, the word had previously been in use.From the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
BELMONT, Mass. — In obituaries July 6 and July 7 for Theodore Levitt, The Associated Press, relying on information from the Harvard Business School, reported erroneously that he had coined the term "globalization." The school now says that Levitt, the former editor of the Harvard Business Review, helped to popularize the term in a 1983 article for the publication, but he did not coin it.From the
New York Times:
An obituary and headline on Friday about Theodore Levitt, a marketing scholar at the Harvard Business School, referred incorrectly to the origin of the word globalization. While Mr. Levitt’s work was closely associated with the idea of globalization in economics, and while he published a respected paper in 1983 popularizing the term, he did not coin the word. (It was in use at least as early as 1944 in other senses and was used by others in discussing economics at least as early as 1981.) (Go to Article)By the way, the 1944 reference the Times cited is from the
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Didn't anyone see fit to look up the word to see that the earliest citation was before Professor Levitt was out of college?
newspapers,
media,
errors,
obituaries
Not that there's anything wrong with it #2
From the
Washington Times:
Because of an editing error, The Washington Times on Monday incorrectly reported the sexual orientation of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Mr. Newsom is heterosexual.newspapers,
media,
errors,
politics
How soon we forget #3
From the
Houston Chronicle:
An editorial on Page E2 Sunday misstated the year the Super Bowl was played in Houston. The year was 2004.Where's the civic pride, Houston Chronicle? Wasn't hosting the Super Bowl a big deal?
newspapers,
media,
errors,
sports
A little nepotism can do a lot for a career
From the
Chicago Tribune:
- An article in Monday's Career Path feature in the Business section about David Storch's rise to become chairman, chief executive and president of AAR Corp. in Wood Dale failed to include the fact that he is the son-in-law of founder Ira A. Eichner. Storch succeeded Eichner as CEO in 1996.
Do you think being married to the boss' daughter could have helped in Mr. Storch's rise?newspapers,
media,
errors,
business
Corrupted corrections web page still up
Hey,
Dallas Morning News! Fix your
corrections web page. It's still corrupted! And while you're at it, find some errors and correct them too. You know you've got them.
newspapers,
media,
errors
Sacramento is more interesting than you would've guessed
From the
Sacramento Bee:
A
Buzz item on Page A3 Monday incorrectly reported that former state Senate staffer John Shahabian's coffee career came after his involvement in the "
Shrimpscam" Capitol corruption investigation. Shahabian's start in the coffee business predated the FBI case.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
politics
The Dallas Morning News almost never has a correction, but they can sure mess up a web page...
What follows is the contents of the
Dallas Morning News corrections web page as of 8:08pm EDT, 9 July 2006:
-------------------------------------------------
The Dallas Morning News welcomes your comments about published information that may require correction or clarification. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction or clarification needs to be published. We also will let you know how the matter was resolved. Go to the online error report form.
07/07/2006 ggg rr -------------------------------------------------
Uh, right. Please do your tests on the test server, not the production server. Thank you.
newspapers,
media,
errors
It helps to visit the place you write about, in order to get the details correct...
From the
New York Times:
The Cultured Traveler column on June 25, about contemporary art in Mexico City, referred incorrectly to Zócalo, the city's main square, which is home to many of the city's cultural treasures. The square is treeless, not "leafy." (Go to Article)The Cultured Traveler must not get out enough.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
travel
You forget to go down one hallway, you miss 78 rooms
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Spelling mansion: A story in Friday's California section about the Holmby Hills residence of the late Aaron Spelling and his wife, Candy, incorrectly said the mansion has 45 rooms. It has 123. The story also incorrectly said that the highest price of a residential real estate sale in the U.S. was the $70 million paid for businessman Ronald Perelman's estate in Palm Beach, Fla., two years ago and that the local record was the $47.5 million that David Geffen paid for a Beverly Hills estate 16 years ago. In both cases, the record is the $94-million purchase of a Bel-Air estate by telecommunications executive Gary Winnick in 2000.newspapers,
media,
errors,
real estate,
los angeles
Natural history department
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Komodo dragon: An article in Wednesday's Section A about Indonesia's Komodo National Park said the Komodo dragon, known for its extraordinary sense of smell, has odor receptors on its tongue. The lizard uses its tongue to gather air samples and then brings those to the receptors on the roof of its mouth.newspapers,
media,
errors,
nature
The Globe touches a nerve
From the
Boston Globe:
Clarification: A story in the June 26 City & Region section on parishes closing in Brighton and Lynn referred to a ``Polish concentration camp." The concentration camps in Poland, which was occupied by Germany during the war, were created and controlled by Nazis.newspapers,
media,
errors,
boston
Delaware falling behind in the good-government competition
From the
Wall Street Journal:
LOUIS CAPANO JR., a Delaware developer, paid extortion money to a county councilman in 1987 and 1988. Subsequently, he reported the matter to the authorities and cooperated in a 1989 sting against the official, who later pleaded guilty to extortion. A page-one article June 6 about Mr. Capano's donation pledges to two Catholic schools mischaracterized his role in the corruption case by stating that he bribed the official and escaped prosecution by cooperating.I thought this stuff only happened in New Jersey.
newspapers,
media,
errors
Would you like your floors waxed as well as your bikini line, ma'am?
From the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The Pamper House, an Arlington salon, is merging with the Trellis Salon and Spa. The name of the Pamper House was incorrect in an article Thursday. The Pampered House, another Arlington business, offers housecleaning services.newspapers,
media,
errors
The late Jan Murray stays in the news
From the
New York Times:
An obituary on Tuesday and in some copies on Monday about Jan Murray, the comedian and game show host, misstated the given name of his surviving son from his first marriage. He is Warren Murray, not Walter. (Go to Article)From the
Los Angeles Times:
Murray obituary: An obituary of comedian Jan Murray in Tuesday's California section said that he moved to Los Angeles in 1965 and found work in TV series such as "Car 54, Where Are You?" Murray appeared in that sitcom, which ran from 1961 to 1963, before moving to Los Angeles.newspapers,
media,
errors
No matter how you calculate it, it's a lot of Kit Kats
From the
Wall Street Journal:
FORTY-SEVEN KITKATS are eaten every second in the United Kingdom. A page-one article yesterday incorrectly said one of the chocolate-covered wafers is eaten every 47 seconds in the U.K.newspapers,
media,
errors
Time to fire whoever is editing the "At Play" section
From the
Chicago Tribune:
- In the At Play section Thursday, a photo caption about the Bristol Renaissance Fair listed an incorrect location. The fair is in Kenosha, Wis. Also, a story about Taste of Chicago "cage matches" said we had 10 cage matches; only eight were featured. Then, a story about the Indiana Dunes incorrectly referred to a nearby "nuclear power plant" and "nuclear cooling tower." The cooling tower in Michigan City, Ind., is part of a conventional power plant.
newspapers, media, errors
And you thought the NY Post had cornered the market on bizarre stories?
From the
New York Times:
An article on Wednesday about the phrase "Collyers' Mansion," used to refer to a dangerously cluttered dwelling, misstated the authenticity of an artifact found in the Collyer brothers' Harlem brownstone, the jam-packed building that spawned the term now often used by firefighters. Although some of the artifacts recovered, like musical instruments, were determined to be fakes, a two-headed baby in a jar of formaldehyde found in the house was actually real. (Go to Article)I don't know what is weirder--a real two-headed baby or the idea that someone could create a fake one?
newspapers,
media,
errors
Apparently legendary status doesn't guarantee having one's name spelled correctly
From the
Orlando Sentinel:
An item in a NASCAR: Best & Worst feature on the front of Tuesday's Sports section about driver Jimmie Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus contained a misspelling of the first and last name of legendary crew chief Smokey Yunick.Alas, poor Yunick, I knew him, Horatio.
newspapers,
media,
errors
Additional pain & suffering: obituary errors #11
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Murray obituary: An obituary in Tuesday's California section of comedian Jan Murray said he was born Murray Jankowski. His family name was Janofsky.I had a flash of nostalgia when reading that Jan Murray passed away. I was a kid in the '70's when he was on television seemingly all the time, on those afternoon game shows like "Hollywood Squares," "Match Game" and the like. Reading various websites about his work, I don't see these particular ones on his list. So it could be my memory that's hazy. Anyway, farewell, Mr. Janofsky.
newspapers,
media,
errors,
obituaries
Not that there's anything wrong with it...
From the
Los Angeles Times:
Filmmaker Richard Glatzer: A Saturday Briefing item about adult filmmakers crossing over into Hollywood movies incorrectly stated that "Quinceanera" co-director Richard Glatzer had worked in the pornography industry. Glatzer, who works in independent film and reality TV, has not worked in adult films.newspapers,
media,
errors
Cultural illiteracy department #2
From the
New York Times:
Book Review
Because of an editing error, a review on Page 10 of the Book Review today, about "Radical Innocent: Upton Sinclair," by Anthony Arthur and "Upton Sinclair and the Other American Century," by Kevin Mattson, misidentified the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930. Although Upton Sinclair campaigned for the award, it was won by Sinclair Lewis. (Go to Article)
From the Chicago Tribune:
- In a promo on Page 1 of Sunday's Books section, Edgar Allan Poe's middle name is misspelled.
The Tribune regrets the error.
I haven't done a scientific study on this, but I'd bet that Poe's middle name is the most often messed-up literary name in journalism. Anyone have a different candidate?
newspapers,
media,
errors
Plenty of good seats available
From the
New York Times:
A theater entry in the Listings pages of Weekend yesterday about "The House in Town," at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, misstated the closing date. It is July 30, not tomorrow.The Times didn't like the play
when it reviewed it, and apparently is still holding a grudge.
newspapers,
media,
errors
