The phones are ringing and the emails are coming through .. and while I didn't write it, it's my fault because the words came out of my mouth.
Long story short .. during our 6 p.m. newscast on TV3, I read a story about a steroid bust in Green. The prompter rolled with copy that told me the raid was conducted at the home of Drew Alexander. As the words came out of my mouth, it was as though a slow motion "noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! that's not right!!!!!!!!!!!!" was raging inside my brain.
Too late! Before I could say "wait a minute that's not right .. " my co-anchor Barbara Gauthier was already on to the next story. I got the producer on the phone to find out if by some miracle of a coincidence this bad guy had the same name as Summit County Sheriff DREW ALEXANDER.
She checked and realized that the copy she wrote using a Sheriff's Office Press Release was wrong .. and she'd inserted Alexander's name where the suspect's name should have been.
We did an immediate correction coming out of the commercial ... and I have apologized to the folks one-by-one who are calling in. (One guy who decided to make it personal in his email got a piece of my mind though.)
If I know Drew, he'll tease me forever about this one ... but he'll forgive me. Still .. Drew, I apologize. That shouldn't have happened.
Actually, it's not the first time the name game has frozen us TV folks solid. Years ago, I interviewed a woman named "Romona Robinson" and the director refused to put up the graphic under her soundbite because he assumed that it was an error. Another time, we had a "Mark Williamson" in a story on the old 23 and everyone hesitated. We've had graphics folks who would also "correct" the spelling of Jhonny Peralta because they were sure I had misspelled it when it was correct. I even had to say on the air that I wasn't related to the subject of a story on a drunk driver because his last name was Mansfield.
I'm human .. and I admit I should have been caught the mistake as it flew out of my mouth .. but as a journalist, the right thing to do is to apologize for the error and hope viewers realize that human beings -- not infallible robots -- put the news together.
Long story short .. during our 6 p.m. newscast on TV3, I read a story about a steroid bust in Green. The prompter rolled with copy that told me the raid was conducted at the home of Drew Alexander. As the words came out of my mouth, it was as though a slow motion "noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! that's not right!!!!!!!!!!!!" was raging inside my brain.
Too late! Before I could say "wait a minute that's not right .. " my co-anchor Barbara Gauthier was already on to the next story. I got the producer on the phone to find out if by some miracle of a coincidence this bad guy had the same name as Summit County Sheriff DREW ALEXANDER.
She checked and realized that the copy she wrote using a Sheriff's Office Press Release was wrong .. and she'd inserted Alexander's name where the suspect's name should have been.
We did an immediate correction coming out of the commercial ... and I have apologized to the folks one-by-one who are calling in. (One guy who decided to make it personal in his email got a piece of my mind though.)
If I know Drew, he'll tease me forever about this one ... but he'll forgive me. Still .. Drew, I apologize. That shouldn't have happened.
Actually, it's not the first time the name game has frozen us TV folks solid. Years ago, I interviewed a woman named "Romona Robinson" and the director refused to put up the graphic under her soundbite because he assumed that it was an error. Another time, we had a "Mark Williamson" in a story on the old 23 and everyone hesitated. We've had graphics folks who would also "correct" the spelling of Jhonny Peralta because they were sure I had misspelled it when it was correct. I even had to say on the air that I wasn't related to the subject of a story on a drunk driver because his last name was Mansfield.
I'm human .. and I admit I should have been caught the mistake as it flew out of my mouth .. but as a journalist, the right thing to do is to apologize for the error and hope viewers realize that human beings -- not infallible robots -- put the news together.
8 comments:
Eric,
Knowing Drew and knowing that you've apologized (profusely, I'm sure) just makes the incident funny. It happens--and I'm surprised not more often with as quickly as newscasters must read what is scrolling past. Sorry we missed it. Doug and I would have had a great laugh over that one.
Cin
I don't think you're totally at fault here though... but I think it's great that you're taking accountability anyway and apologizing publicly through your blog and to the callers that call into the station. I can only imagine how terrible you feel!!
Good day !.
might , perhaps curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may start to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you thought of all the time
AimTrust incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
Its head office is in Panama with affiliates everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your choice That`s what you really need!
I feel good, I started to take up income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. It`s all about how to select a correct partner who uses your savings in a right way - that`s it!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to start , just click this link http://bowunytib.lookseekpages.com/oneqomo.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to feel the smell of real money
Good day !.
You may , perhaps very interested to know how one can make real money .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may begin earning with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
The company incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
It is based in Panama with offices everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your choice That`s what you wish in the long run!
I`m happy and lucky, I began to take up real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. It`s all about how to select a correct partner utilizes your savings in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://ylymupyg.dreamstation.com/yvukoni.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life
Hi !.
might , probably very interested to know how one can make real money .
There is no initial capital needed You may commense to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you thought of all the time
The company represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
It is based in Panama with structures everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your choice That`s what you wish in the long run!
I feel good, I started to get income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a proper companion who uses your money in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to start , just click this link http://ozazovojaj.mindnmagick.com/qylehyz.html
and go! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life
Hello!
You may probably be very interested to know how one can manage to receive high yields on investments.
There is no initial capital needed.
You may commense to get income with a sum that usually is spent
for daily food, that's 20-100 dollars.
I have been participating in one company's work for several years,
and I'll be glad to let you know my secrets at my blog.
Please visit blog and send me private message to get the info.
P.S. I make 1000-2000 per day now.
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]
Glad to materialize here. Good day or night everybody!
Let me introduce myself,
friends call me Nikolas.
Generally I’m a venturesome gambler. for a long time I’m keen on online-casino and poker.
Not long time ago I started my own blog, where I describe my virtual adventures.
Probably, it will be interesting for you to utilize special software facilitating winnings .
Please visit my blog. http://allbestcasino.com I’ll be interested on your opinion..
[url=http://www.canadagoosedoudouneparis.fr]canada goose doudoune[/url] If you find problems developing in the stitching or the soles of the show, or anywhere on the shoe in fact, put the cost of repairing the shoe against the cost of replace them and make a trip to the local repair shop for shoes. [url=http://www.pandoraonilnestore.co.uk]pandora leather bracelet[/url]
[url=http://www.canadagoosedame.eu]canada goose jacket[/url] npjmcrem
[url=http://www.franceuggboots.eu]http://www.franceuggboots.eu[/url] [url=http://www.franceuggboots.eu]ugg rose[/url]
Post a Comment