iMediaEthics’s latest roundup of amusing or noteworthy corrections in the news media includes a news outlet being duped by a fake Twitter account, an error in reporting when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks happened, a mix-up of Russians and Republicans, and a factoid about daylight saving time and President George W. Bush.
Read the collection below:
1. When is Daylight Saving Time?
An Oct. 2019 USA Today correction:
“News: An earlier version of this story misstated when daylight saving time took place annually before it was extended by President George W. Bush. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/29/daylight-savings-time-2019-what-states-want-make-dst-permanent/2494759001/”
2. Fake Twitter account:
The BBC fell for a fake Twitter account posing as politician Tom Watson. The Nov. 1 correction reads:
“During a report about the decision to scrap a vote to abolish the Labour deputy leader post, our correspondent quoted a tweet that they believed was posted to Tom Watson’s official Twitter profile. However it has come to our attention that the tweet that was quoted in the report was taken from a fake Tom Watson Twitter account.”
3. When was the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks?
An Oct. 25 NPR correction:
“A previous version of this review misstated the year of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as 2011.”
4. Russians or Republicans?
A USA Today correction:
“News: In a story Oct. 18 about Tulsi Gabbard and Hillary Clinton, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Hillary Clinton said she believes the Russians have “got their eye on somebody who’s currently in the Democratic primary and grooming her to be the third-party candidate.” She was referring to Republicans, not Russians, according to an aide. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/10/18/tulsi-gabbard-fires-back-hillary-clinton-suggestion-shes-russia-pawn/4027196002/“