US: a single article makes a Parade of all newspapers’ credibility
Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on January 10, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Dozens of readers have reacted angrily after the Parade magazine published, as an insert in numerous newspapers, a “seriously outdated cover story” and interview of Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, 10 days after her assassination, wrote Chicago Tribune’s public editor Timothy McNulty.
The interview had been carried out in late November, and the published version failed to note that the politician was assassinated on Dec. 27.
The article’s now-nonsensical headline read "Is Benazir Bhutto America's best hope against al-Qaeda?"
Parade claims that the distribution of its 32 million copies to more than 400 newspapers had began at about the same time.
Parade is an independent publication that pays newspapers, including the Tribune to distribute its magazine insert on Sundays.
None of its content is chosen or edited by the Tribune staff, however as a newspaper customer, the Tribune does have a say on whether to publish the magazine or not.
“What makes this special is that it deals with the core issue of credibility. The problem, then, is not merely about the number of complaints. Readers expect the paper to be timely and clear about the news articles it presents,” wrote Tribune’s public editor.
"Now, I will always wonder how fresh and accurate are your news articles and stories," wrote one of the outraged readers.
Understandably enough, such a mistake, whether made by a newspaper, one of its affiliates or by an independent contractor, tarnishes a paper’s reputation on the long term.
Other US newspapers put a notice about the Parade article within their print edition. The News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. was one of the few that put a notice on its page both on Saturday and Sunday. But that wasn’t enough either: “many didn't notice or didn't care," Ted Vaden, the public editor, wrote to his colleagues, "and we've gotten a lot of unhappy messages today re insensitivity, etc."
Even worse is the suspicion among readers that the Tribune and other newspapers published the Parade magazine in order to honor their business agreement. A declaration by Parade’s publisher and president, Randy Siegel, saying that it would have cost several millions to update the article or post a notice, didn’t help to reassure readers.
"I hope this was just a real unfortunate error and not editorial judgment that gave revenue priority over good taste," said a reader.
Click here to listen to an audio clip about the mishap.
Source: Chicago Tribune – NPR
The article’s now-nonsensical headline read "Is Benazir Bhutto America's best hope against al-Qaeda?"
Parade claims that the distribution of its 32 million copies to more than 400 newspapers had began at about the same time.
Parade is an independent publication that pays newspapers, including the Tribune to distribute its magazine insert on Sundays.
None of its content is chosen or edited by the Tribune staff, however as a newspaper customer, the Tribune does have a say on whether to publish the magazine or not.
“What makes this special is that it deals with the core issue of credibility. The problem, then, is not merely about the number of complaints. Readers expect the paper to be timely and clear about the news articles it presents,” wrote Tribune’s public editor.
"Now, I will always wonder how fresh and accurate are your news articles and stories," wrote one of the outraged readers.
Understandably enough, such a mistake, whether made by a newspaper, one of its affiliates or by an independent contractor, tarnishes a paper’s reputation on the long term.
Other US newspapers put a notice about the Parade article within their print edition. The News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. was one of the few that put a notice on its page both on Saturday and Sunday. But that wasn’t enough either: “many didn't notice or didn't care," Ted Vaden, the public editor, wrote to his colleagues, "and we've gotten a lot of unhappy messages today re insensitivity, etc."
Even worse is the suspicion among readers that the Tribune and other newspapers published the Parade magazine in order to honor their business agreement. A declaration by Parade’s publisher and president, Randy Siegel, saying that it would have cost several millions to update the article or post a notice, didn’t help to reassure readers.
"I hope this was just a real unfortunate error and not editorial judgment that gave revenue priority over good taste," said a reader.
Click here to listen to an audio clip about the mishap.
Source: Chicago Tribune – NPR
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Just a quick correction. The Annenberg School for Communication, where Marc Cooper teaches, is part of the University of Southern California, not the University of California.
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By the way check this company MDFI. Their stock is set to increase because of their association with Apple iphone and Complete Care Medical. Find more about this company and stock http://www.growurmoney.com/medefile/
The stock has gained 150% from Oct 8, 2007 to Oct 22, 2007.
By the way check this company MDFI. Their stock is set to increase because of their association with Apple iphone and Complete Care Medical. Find more about this company and stock http://www.growurmoney.com/medefile/