Bad 'joke' makes it into print
By: KENT DAVY - Editor | ∞
We published a story Wednesday that contained a terrible mistake.
To be more precise, we carried a story on our Back Page by the Associated Press about a new law in Los Angeles that requires most pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats. So far, so good.
However, two of our editors inserted an error into the account that fundamentally mischaracterized a press conference attended by Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas, one of the law's co-authors. Our Web site, nctimes.com, carries the correct version.
After conducting an internal investigation, I believe that our editors were not being malicious, furthering some political agenda, or expressing ill will toward Cardenas or anyone else. Instead, I have concluded that our mistake flowed from a deeply misguided joke that made its way into print.
Still, there is nothing more important than running a newspaper that our readers can trust. We have fired the editor who initiated the unfortunate "joke." And we have suspended a second editor who failed to keep the error out of print. Further, we will adopt improved quality control measures and training to prevent similar mistakes.
We apologize to Councilman Cardenas, to the Associated Press and to our readers.
-- Kent Davy is editor of the North County Times.
Correct story:
The correct version of the story that ran in the North County Times and The Californian on Feb. 27 can be found at the link listed below:
Pet sterilization becomes law in Los Angeles
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unfortunate wrote on Feb 28, 2008 7:56 AM:however, since the corrections page is now impossible to find with the new front page, no one will ever see this unless they are looking for it.
Curious Minds wrote on Feb 28, 2008 12:24 PM:Who was fired?
to unfortunate wrote on Feb 28, 2008 12:24 PM:you're right about the corrections being buried online, but since the 'joke' only appeared in print, not online, and the apology was on A1 in the actual paper, in this case it's not such a big deal. When a different error is also online, though, people will have a pretty good argument that the corrections are being buried.
Lay low wrote on Feb 28, 2008 1:58 PM:Don't give a newspaper already offering "voluntary" a way to some money.
Lay Low wrote on Feb 28, 2008 3:09 PM:That should say: don't give a newspaper alreadying offering "voluntary" retirements an excuse to save some money.
Cruel sick 'joke' is not funny wrote on Feb 28, 2008 8:50 PM:A 'joke' is something said or written in JEST, to make others laugh. This sick sadistic 'illegal' addition to an AP story was not a joke; it was sadistic, cruel, defamatory, and left readers with a horrific vision sickening stomachs. That NCT acted quickly to print a correction is good, very good. That they fired the childish 'ediot' is AWESOME! Why did they hire him in the first place? His other columns gave 'clues' to his vengeance potential. Good riddance and may he never be in print again! Thank you NCT for putting readers first! Hopefully, the councilman will not sue, or if he does, goes after the warped editor, not NCT! I know you won't print this, but ...............
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