Worst ... typo ... ever
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June 14, 2011 |
By Mike Weland
Publisher
In nearly 30 years in the news business, I've
made my share of mistakes, but none with quite
the impact of a simple slip that occurred Sunday
evening. It only happened once, and it only
involved the omission of a single vowel ... In
this case, an "i," in a single word ... the same
of many on the page.
Recital.
What you've read on this site thus far is
boot-strap reporting. I am hoping that
eventually I will earn the "reach" that
advertisers need to make this a profitable media
to advertise in so that I can hire the help I
need to ensure that such faux pas doesn't occur;
primarily, copy editors. I can't afford copy
editors, and most local papers don't employ
them.
When I worked at the Spokesman Review, nothing
reached print, not even from the managing
editor, until it passed through a wide bank of
editors; content, who helped make sure that all
angles and sources were covered, fact checkers,
who made sure every detail of the article was
correct, copy editors, who made sure not only of
spelling, but of punctuation and syntax. It was
finally proofed by the layout editors, who,
using paper and wax (this was a few years ago),
read every line.
Occasionally, even the Spokesman makes mistakes.
With News Bonners Ferry, sadly, it's just me.
And I'm using an old keyboard upon which I have
to strike many keys several times and watch
closely what appears on the screen, lest I find
my fingers slipped over a key in my haste to get
the story out or a key malfunctions.
On Sunday night, I was working diligently to put
that evening's edition to bed, finishing up with
the sort of story I love to write; The Dance
Studio's upcoming dance recital. Great pictures
of some very talented kids.
Barb sent me the names, and I double and triple
checked each one before I published ... names
are important.
But toward the end, I left out an "i", and spell
check didn't catch it, because it was a
recognized word.
I am grateful for Linda Alt, who sent me an
email, which I caught on an early morning moment
of wakefulness.
"Mike, did you see ..."
AUGH! I scurried and corrected the inadvertent
error, never recognizing that this was a case
where a single missing vowel could make so much
difference.
I received a personal letter from Barb Russell
asking if I'd like to attend the "rectal." My
friends at work asked me if rubber gloves were
needed, and wondered if I was fit to report
news.
I regret my typo, and wish I'd never made it,
but I do have to admit ... this is a classic. |
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