Daily News Making A Habit Out Of Misidentification

Not even a week after misidentifying a man as a suspected cop killer, the Daily News has made a similar mistake:

A photo caption yesterday misidentified a defendant in a murder trial involving victim Asia Adams. The photo published was of Simeon Bozic, who is now on trial. The photo caption incorrectly stated that the photo was of his co-defendant, Thomas “Napoleon” Strode, who had dated Adams.

Yeah, not quite as bad. It was a different alleged murderer this time.

Correction [Daily News]

Whoops! Please Accept This Correction

There was a little correction in Saturday’s Daily News that’s a bit, well, little. Here it is, in full:

Two photos were misidentified in yesterday’s Daily News. A photo of Joan Countryman was misidentified as Lerato Nomvuyo Mzamane. Also, a photo of Hakim Glover was misidentified as John “Jordan” Lewis.

In case you weren’t aware, John “Jordan” Lewis is currently the man who confessed to murdering police officer Chuck Cassidy. “Oh, sorry we identified you as a cop killer, Hakim. How’s a one-sentence correction in an edition of the paper nobody reads sound?”

The first correction is also top notch. Instead of typing Joan Countryman, an editor apparently spilled coffee on his keyboard and ended up with a random collection of letters.

[Image via Regret the Error]

Correction: Blogs Not All That Free Spirited

When I make a mistake, I usually simply correct it in text, note it, and move on. Sometimes if it’s a spelling error nobody’s noticed I don’t note it, but, you know, there are plenty uncorrected spelling errors on this site that make me look stupid enough. I mean, who knew there were two i’s in missile? Anyway, sometimes the errors I make are so egregious a full post is necessary. This is one of those times.

Actual email received earlier this week from one Warren Hoffman, dramaturg for Philadelphia “Theatre” Company:

As the dramaturg for Philadelphia Theatre Company and speaking on behalf of our staff, I’m writing to say that we take great offense to the “obviously” factual errors in the recent posting about Edward Albee (link). While the cracks about Oklahoma! and Virginia Woolf are obviously wrong and “silly,” the presentation of such factual errors in conjunction with Mr. Albee’s career does a disservice to him and to us, Philadelphia Theatre Company. While we are aware that there is a “free-spirited nature” to blogs, insofar as this particular blog is affiliated with Philadelphia Weekly, a newspaper with which we have a strong professional connection, it is upsetting to have one of our nation’s most esteemed playwrights be treated by your paper in this disreputable way. We would like, please, either the erroneous facts to be corrected immediately or a retraction printed.

More »

‘NYT’ Continues To Debase Philadelphia

Okay, not really. But check out this correction in today’s New York Times:

An article in Business Day yesterday reported on a growing trend among large newspapers to accept some circulation declines because of the high expense of attracting and keeping new subscribers. The article was illustrated with a photograph of a delivery truck for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News and a caption that said “Big American newspapers sell about 10 percent fewer copies today than they did in 2000.” The Inquirer’s circulation, like those of other newspapers, has declined from its 2000 levels, but since new owners took over last year, its daily circulation increased almost 7 percent from September 2006 to March 2007, compared with the previous six-month period. The Philadelphia Daily News’ circulation also increased by slightly more than 1 percent in the same period.

Raise your hand if you think Brian Tierney complained to the Times himself. Okay, you can all put them down. But really: Way to run a photo of a newspaper whose circulation was actually up recently, Times! Didn’t you see the “Pigs Fly” supplement?

Corrections 10.02 [NYT]
Archives: Pigs
Thanks, Matt

Correction Of The Day

Consumers can save money by swapping incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs. A story in Monday’s Work & Save section was incorrect.

Whenever there’s a correction like this, I always wonder what the original mistake was. I don’t go and look for it, because it would never be as fun as what I can make up in my head. I’m pretty sure the original mistake that goes with this correction was something like “General Trogg of the planet Melmac-2 declared war on Idaho yesterday.” Yeah. That was definitely it.

This correction also goes pretty well with today’s PW, too.

CORRECTION [Courier-Post]

Once Again, The Media Has Failed Us

When a deadly multiple shooting occurred Saturday night in a bar on 62nd Street near Reedland in Kingsessing, the patrons were watching a televised light-heavyweight boxing match between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright. The fight’s weight classification was incorrectly listed in yesterday’s Daily News.

Update: And the Courier Times, too!

These are the correct lottery numbers for Sunday’s lottery drawing for Treasure Hunt (12-13-19-24-30) and Cash 5 (15-21-24-27-30). Incorrect numbers appeared in Monday’s newspaper.

Correction [Daily News]
Corrections and clarifications for July 24 [Bucks County Courier Times]

Correction Of The Week

Take it away, Camden Courier Post:

A rabid raccoon was found Tuesday on Woodlane Drive in Moorestown. A story Wednesday was incorrect.

But what was the error?

Correction 6.28.07 [Camden Courier-Post]

No, Really: Postal Rate Increase Causes Confusion, Anger

Turns out I was wrong; the post office apparently can’t handle a little postal rate increase without mass chaos and looting after all!

Today is the official day of the long-awaited move to a 41-cent stamp. (For philatelists across the country, this is their Christmas. Uh, I guess.) That move is expected to be rather simple besides a few returns to sender. But for pretty much everything else, it’s going to be a disaster.

The post office is changing rates based on not just the weight of an item but also the shape. And they’re pissing off junk mailers¹, which means you know it’s a good idea.

The Direct Marketing Association in New York is “very, very unhappy,” said spokeswoman Stephanie Hendricks. “The rates go into effect on Monday under protest.”

If the protest is upheld by the commissioner, the game will restart in the sixth inning with the score tied at 3 and two men on for the Direct Marketing Association.

But just because the new regulations are kind of confusing doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it, according to Postal Service spokesman Dave Partenheimer:

“Before, thickness didn’t matter,” he said. Now, “thickness does come into play. If it gets too thick you create a new shape.”

See, it’s just like we’re kids again: We get to work with shapes!

Size matters, so does shape under new postal rates [AP/CNN.com]
May 11: Postal Rate Increase To Cause Confusion, Panic

¹ The Post Office used to have this hilarious website where it responded to every last knock on the United States Postal Service with a snippy letter. It seems to be gone now, but one I can remember asked the paper to refer to junk mail as “commercial mail.”

‘Daily News’ Clarifies Most Imp’t Mayoral Issue

A correction in today’s paper:

A story in yesterday’s paper about several mayoral candidates’ visit to Central High School misstated their cheese-steak preferences. Chaka Fattah, Tom Knox and Michael Nutter all favor Pat’s; Al Taubenberger and Bob Brady prefer Geno’s.

Phew. I’m glad we cleared this up.

Correction 02.28 [DN]

Super Letdown

A correction from this week’s Center City Weekly Press:

Yes, clearly, that was the story in last week’s paper that needed a correction.

Saturday: Weekly Press: Powerhouse University Of Pennsylvania Takes On Galloping Ghost Red Grange