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Journalism at its finest

(30 Posts)
Astitchintime Fri 14-Jun-24 13:32:50

You would think that even a tabloid journalist could spell correctly wouldn't you............"Holidaymakers were left waiting in the rain for hours following new rules introduced by the Gorvernment - as airlines warned passengers to arrive three hours early"

Quote from the Mirror online today grin

HelterSkelter1 Fri 14-Jun-24 13:39:06

It sounds very upper class!

Namsnanny Fri 14-Jun-24 13:48:22

I agree the ability to spell correctly is a recommendation for the job, but, my respect for the profession has dropped to its lowest level, and I would be happy if they could just tell the truth

M0nica Fri 14-Jun-24 13:53:26

Astitchintime I am feeling intimidated and despised. Many of my posts are littered with typos and mistakes.

If you feel like this about one slip of the fingers on a website. What must you think of me.

In this modern age journalists no longer have the time to proof read an hone their prose and anyone can have a slip of the fingers. Can i assume that everything you type is always 100% perfect ans that you never ever make a mistake or error.

MissInterpreted Fri 14-Jun-24 13:56:41

It's not just that - it's also the fact that the vast majority of newspapers and associated websites got rid of their sub-editors and proofreaders years ago, so there is literally no-one checking the reporters' copy before it goes into print or online. I know this from bitter personal experience!

HelterSkelter1 Fri 14-Jun-24 14:02:05

But it's their job MOnica. Not a pastime. They should double check everything they write in case of worse errors. They are being paid for their copy. And often we are paying for it.
No one should care on social media about spelling mistakes. For some reason predictive text has attitude on my tablet and crazy choices are being offered even when my word is correct. This is fairly recent and annoying.

Chestnut Fri 14-Jun-24 14:08:00

Surely there is a Spell Checker? It's a basic word that is often used, so there should have been a wavy red line highlighting the error. Therefore I agree this should not have gone to print. It's not the same as joe public on a social media site, it's a national newspaper.

Wyllow3 Fri 14-Jun-24 14:08:17

Just done a google trip around red top spelling mistakes.

Fairly endemic across the board, but it looks like it is bad grammar which is much more frequent in hurried headlines and in the quick sentences between photos.

M0nica Fri 14-Jun-24 14:21:38

HelterSkelter In theory it is, and it was, but frequently now the reporter will never see whaat he has typed as text. It will go straight down the line to the newspaper office. There it should be picked up by the sub editor, but fewer staff and cutting corners to cut costs means often this does not happen.

You seem to forget the the second name for The Guardian is The Gruaniad because of the number of typos that get past it. Every newspaper runs a regular apoolgies column for errors made in its reports - and most of those are textual

DD used to be in a profession with a similar typing profile. She was a television subtitler, doing mainly live subtitling. She left because the time being given for checking and revising was being limited and less and less wellt rained staff were being used in order to drive down costs. She left.

I did a lot of writing for print at one stage and it used to be a standing joke that three of us used to proof read one publication about three times. Nevertheless when the finished publication came back from the printer we would open it and immediately see the typo that three of us reading it three times each had completely missed.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 14-Jun-24 17:31:12

I'll be more forgiving MOnica. Good explanation.

A nephew is the editor of a sports publication I must ask him how much proof reading time they can allocate these days.

The above example the OP posted was probably more a slip of the fingers than just bad spelling.

NotSpaghetti Fri 14-Jun-24 17:42:26

I would be interested to know how much proof reading is done helterskelter - please pop back when you know!

David49 Fri 14-Jun-24 18:15:11

If they can’t verify they just add “alledged” or “from credible sources” and publish anyway.

AskAlice Fri 14-Jun-24 18:53:55

It's not just the online tabloids. I always use BBC online news rather than watch on TV. I quite often see repeated phrases, missed words and other errors. To be honest, it doesn't bother me as I assume that, as Monica has said, the checks are being carried out by fewer, less skilled staff as a cost-cutting exercise and no-one's perfect!

CanadianGran Fri 14-Jun-24 18:58:31

My sister used to be a typesetter for a small local printer. She loved her job and was really good at finding typos. Grammar mistakes could admittedly get past her. The industry has really changed, and like Monica says, staffing and timing is an issue.

Astitchintime Fri 14-Jun-24 19:35:08

M0nica

Astitchintime I am feeling intimidated and despised. Many of my posts are littered with typos and mistakes.

If you feel like this about one slip of the fingers on a website. What must you think of me.

In this modern age journalists no longer have the time to proof read an hone their prose and anyone can have a slip of the fingers. Can i assume that everything you type is always 100% perfect ans that you never ever make a mistake or error.

Monica, it was not my intention to offend you and equally I certainly do not claim to 100% accuracy in everything that I post or comment on but you and I are not being paid are we? Journalists are and the use of spell check is quick and simple.

M0nica Fri 14-Jun-24 23:07:23

If you look above you will find that many journalists, possibly most speak their copy directly to their offices and never see any visible text to edit.

M0nica Fri 14-Jun-24 23:08:54

You will also see in one of my pots further up that I have been paid to write copy and publish it in an environemnet where it went through multiple proof readings, but we still missed things.

Llamedos13 Fri 14-Jun-24 23:28:17

I have to admit to reading this over and over and couldn’t see what was wrong. Not until I showed it to my husband who noticed the incorrect spelling.Now sure why it was even worth mentioning!

Calendargirl Sat 15-Jun-24 07:08:19

Llamedos13

I have to admit to reading this over and over and couldn’t see what was wrong. Not until I showed it to my husband who noticed the incorrect spelling.Now sure why it was even worth mentioning!

That’s because we skim read stuff, and we see what we expect to see. Hence the assumption of ‘government’ in this case.

Astitchintime Sat 15-Jun-24 10:46:30

I will be sure to consult the Gransnet Police before starting a thread in the future.

M0nica Sat 15-Jun-24 14:40:07

Astitchintime Why. All that has happened is you wrote the OP on this thread and, broadly speaking those who responded disagreed with you. That is not policing. No one has suggested that the thread was inappropriate, no one has done anything to stop you posting it, and no one has said that you shouldn't have posted it.

I have started threads and found everyone disagreeing with me. so be it, we are each entitled to our opnion. It has happened to me a number of times. That is the point of a Forum. Peopls start threads, some will get total agreement some will get the opposite and some, the majority rouse feelings on both sides,

GN police? piffle.

pascal30 Sat 15-Jun-24 18:08:19

David49

If they can’t verify they just add “alledged” or “from credible sources” and publish anyway.

I hope not alledged...

Witzend Sat 15-Jun-24 20:00:54

Rather than a spelling mistake as such, that was surely just a ‘fat fingers’ error. Should have been checked and corrected though.

rubysong Sat 15-Jun-24 20:26:53

I read an article this morning online, (sorry I can't remember where). The 'journalist' enthused about visiting Leeds to see the corn exchange, which he said was 'a spherical building'.

Cossy Sat 15-Jun-24 20:40:12

MissInterpreted

It's not just that - it's also the fact that the vast majority of newspapers and associated websites got rid of their sub-editors and proofreaders years ago, so there is literally no-one checking the reporters' copy before it goes into print or online. I know this from bitter personal experience!

I agree