iMediaEthics’s latest collection of amusing or noteworthy media corrections includes a fake Mark Twain quote, a misattributed Biden/Trump quote, and Banff National Park being misplaced on the map.
1.Fake Mark Twain quote? The New York Times reported that Ron Chernow quoted Mark Twain with the line, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.” But, the New York Times acknowledged in a correction that while Chernow said Twain made the comment, “there is no evidence” for that. A New York Times May 1 correction:
An article on Monday about the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner misstated the origin of a quote that the historian Ron Chernow shared during his remarks at the event. While Mr. Chernow attributed the remark to Mark Twain, there is no evidence that Twain ever said, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”
2. Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy haven’t won Oscars, got it? An April New York Times article on the college admissions scheme wrongly called Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy Oscars winners but they’ve only been nominated.
The April 11 correction:
An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy as Oscar winners. They have both been Oscar nominees, but not winners.
3. Trump will beat Trump?
An April 30 NPR correction:
A previous version of this story misattributed a quote. President Trump did not say, “If I’m gonna beat Donald Trump in 2020, it’s going to happen here in Western Pennsylvania.” It was Joe Biden.
4. California Fox-affiliate KTVU put Banff National Park on the wrong side of Canada in a map. While in reality Banff is near Alberta, the affiliate put it near Quebec. iMediaEthics has written to KTVU for more information.