A Test Story Morphs Into a Heady Rumor (ABCNEWS Screwup; Falsely Reports Death of Ronald Reagan)

The New York Times ^ | June 30, 2003 | Jim Rutenberg

[Dont Mention the War]

"This is our livelihood and we cannot afford another mistake."

Like the one you just made, Slavin?

Imbeciles.

[Tall_Texan]

And don't forget...

These rumors come to us from that bastion of credibility...THE NEW YORK TIMES!

When NYT covers ABC, you can't believe anybody.

[JerseyHighlander]

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4136,23204-1051199940,00.html

CNN.com did the same in early April....

And the Pope, for good measure....

There was a Dana Carvey as Tom Brokaw SNL skit that now falls in the "reality is stranger than fiction" file.

[DoughtyOne]

What I want to know is this? Why is it that Reagan has been the brunt of this twice? This isn't the first time a test broadcast name Reagan as having died. I belive it was around 18 months to two years ago.

Are these networks trying to say they are secretly wishing Reagan was dead? I'm sorry, but you don't have to use a real individual. They could use a made up person's name. No they keep picking Reagan.

Screw them. Use that bastard Carter for your tests you pricks!

[weegee]

...the staff took part in one of the division's now common breaking-news drills, which news executives concocted to make sure the division never again gets caught off guard by breaking news, as it was during the space shuttle Columbia disaster and the start of Gulf War II.

For breaking news, they should monitor Free Republic.

The Wall Street Journal (and even some leftist sites like DUh) wrote about the real time observation thread of the Columbia's last flyby (and the ensuing tragedy).

[weegee]

"Bob Hope" was reported to have died too some time back.

Why not Teddy Kennedy? Why not Larry Flynt?

[Miss Marple]

Is this the actual headline in the Times?

If it is, it is very offensive, since "heady" generally means "intoxicating; excited as if by alcohol or drugs; giddy."

The headline itself is a scandal.

[tdadams]

I don't think it's any animus toward Reagan. Sadly, the man is 92 and has been in a state of decline for almost 10 years.

In those circumstances, media outlets prepare comprehensive obituaries in advance, so they only have to fill in the time and date when someone actually does pass away. That way they can run a retrospective on the person's life immediately (as we saw this weekend with Katherine Hepburn).

However thankful we are that the Gipper is still with us, sadly, one day very soon, the obituary will be real. :(

[Dont Mention the War]

"Heady" is the actual headline.

[Miss Marple]

Unbelievable. Imagine it as "A Test Story Morphs into an Intoxicating Rumor."

I think the New York Times is despicable. Other than the staff of the Times and the denizens of DU, who would find the rumor of an old man's death "heady." Were they anticipating dancing on his grave or what?

[TomGuy]

Similar errors have occurred for years.

Remember Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) on returning from a trip to Europe only to find newspaper published reports that he had died. "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated," he said.

In the late 60's there was a tv news report that Khruschev had died--later retracted.

News rooms screw up. Rumors spread. Even that Regan report made it to FR as a thread--but got pulled when no additional confirmation came forth.

After the book, Bias, and the NYT fiasco, however, now is not the time for media to be showing such gross neglect in accuracy.

[Miss Marple]

Not to memntion the paper's obvious hatred of Reagan in the headline of the story.

[BlueNgold]

For breaking news, they should monitor Free Republic.

True story - on 9-11 I read about the events on FR and was downstairs to a cafe with a TV before the national networks broke in. The local NY Freepers had it posted before the national news went live.

[DoughtyOne]

I don't so much mind this practice, but I am getting tired of hearing about Reagan. Someone mentioned it happend earlier this year. It happened now. And I read it several years ago. This is three times we know of. Come up with another scenario.

Yes it will be real some time in the not too distant future. If he's as bad as I think he is by now, I wish him a speedy trip. He's lead a good life.

[Xenalyte]

The Wall Street Journal (and even some leftist sites like DUh) wrote about the real time observation thread of the Columbia's last flyby (and the ensuing tragedy).

The utter lack of class that I observed on DU's shuttle threads the morning it happened convinced me that for my blood pressure and general health, I should never go there again. The vitriol was amazing, as was the way they tried to pin the explosion on Dubya within about 15 minutes.

[Xenalyte]

Come to think of it, "heady" is quite offensive in this context. To us, at least.

[weegee]

The press has written about FR in a variety of articles (usually as an "activist" site FReeping polls and email boxes).

The shuttle story was a rare exception of good press that showed much of what FR is often like (running conversation, usually of a conservative nature but not always).

The press hasn't ever covered the bitterness to be found on that other site. That site has appeared in some "top sites" poll choices though (I think on about.com and at some other places). I would nominate it for "top website alternative to ipecac".

[newgeezer]

If they really wanted to prevent their drills from becoming news, you'd think they'd get around to using ficticious names.

So, if they can't or won't make that simple adjustment, it's probably safe to assume they don't mind if some "eavesdropper" runs with the story.

[88keys]

"particularly moronic."

particularly (Terry) "morAnic"?! hehe!

They must be beside themselves for not using Strom for this little exercise...now that would have been a real scoop for breaking news!!!!!!!!

God bless Sen. Thurmond and his family.

These media people are just disgusting! "Heady", my arse...how subtle is that? Imbeciles is right...dreadfully insensitive and just plain tin-ear stoopid.

[rabidralph]

to make sure the division never again gets caught off guard by breaking news, as it was during the space shuttle Columbia disaster and the start of Gulf War II.

LOL! Two events, six weeks apart, and they still couldn't get the word out on time.