Best Media Corrections of 2005

This is hilarious! A web site called "Regret the Error" has posted an entry on media errors and corrections in 2005, here.

Ladies and Gentleman, the Correction of the Year for 2005, as published in the Denver Daily News on July 27:

The Denver Daily News would like to offer a sincere apology for a typo in Wednesday's Town Talk regarding New Jersey's proposal to ban smoking in automobiles. It was not the author's intention to call New Jersey 'Jew Jersey.'

Yes, it’s a terrible error. Offensive, even. And the resulting correction is hilarious. But another reason we singled this baby out is that, like so many corrections, it begs for much more detail and a more complete explanation. The News offends an entire state and a major religion and all it can muster is 39 words? Only a newspaper could get away with that.

This is followed by all sorts of corrections and typos.

Typo of the Year

Feast your eyes on this November Reuters report about the recall of "beef panties."

First Runner Up

From the Dallas Morning News: Norma Adams-Wade's June 15 column incorrectly called Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk a socialist. She is a socialite.

What a great site! Corrections from many major newspapers and news organizations.

Of course, none of us has ever made a mistake that needed correction, or spoken oddly.

I recall the time when my wife, Beth, and I moved to Pasadena to begin grad school. We were sharing a house with a couple we had known in San Jose, Bob and Martha Savage. One night, a telemarketer called, and asked, "May I please speak with your wife?" I casually replied, "Which one?" Then, catching myself, I tried to explain what I meant. The more I explained, the worse it got. So I hung up.

Enjoy.