We give newspapers a lot of grief for their errors, but there is a whole other stream of daily corrections that we haven't yet given a working over: press releases. Yes, even documents that are created with only one point of view and -- most of the time -- by one source are rife with errors. Here are some recent press release corrections from the wire services.
It's tough to look like experts when you get your own data wrong (we should know):
In the news release, "UC Berkeley Research Team Sounds 'Smoke Alarm' for Florida E-Vote Count," issued yesterday, Nov. 18 over PR Newswire, we are advised of changes to the second graph. The graph should read: "The three counties where the voting anomalies were most prevalent were also the most heavily Democratic: Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, respectively. Statistical patterns in counties that did not have e-touch voting machines predict a 13,000 vote decrease in President Bush's support in Broward County; machines tallied an increase of 59,000 votes - a net gain of 72,000 for the incumbent. President Bush should have gained only 17,000 votes in Palm Beach County, but instead gained 57,000 - a difference of 40,000 votes. He should have gained only 29,000 votes in Miami-Dade County but saw a gain of 44,000 - a difference of 15,000 votes."
As for this correction, we can't understand why a guy into trucks and "off-highway" vehicles wouldn't rather be called "Mack"? (Real names are so overrated anyway.)
In the news release, PACCAR Chairman Mack C. Pigott Is Named '2004 Manager of the Year' by Business Journal Stark's Truck & Off-Highway Ledger, issued earlier today by Stark's Truck & Off-Highway Ledger over PR Newswire, we are advised by a representative of the company that the headline should read "PACCAR Chairman Mark C. Pigott Is Named '2004 Manager of the Year' by Business Journal Stark's Truck & Off-Highway Ledger" rather than "Mack C. Pigott" as originally issued inadvertently.
Wal-Mart lowers and then raises prices in this correction:
In the news release, Walmart.com Kicks Off Holiday Shopping Season Early With Thanksgiving Week Online Specials, issued earlier today by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT - News) over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the first bullet point after the third paragraph, should read "Bonus 3-Disk Pack at $54.77" rather than "$64.77" and the sixth paragraph, first sentence should read "robot at only $86.64" rather than "79.84" as originally issued inadvertently.
Heck, even the Canadian Association of Journalists had to issue a correction to a press release. And, unlike most corrected press releases, they don't explain why.
