Link to AP/WBAY Bush Election Story?

[indyjones1938]

Anyone have a link or screenshot? I didn't get to see it. The one saying "Bush Won" the election?

[flowomo]

1. yes, I have it..... hold on

[flowomo]

2. this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2464498#2464782

[indyjones1938]

3. Thanks

I think thats it

[flowomo]

4. FYI, here's their official defense

I had e-mailed a complaint last night and got this e-mail back today:


The Associated Press runs tests about 4 times a week for a month prior to an election, especially one as crucial as a presidential election, to help TV stations and newspapers make sure their publishing systems are working properly (the irony doesn't escape me). The AP's numbers are random with every test; this article just as easily could have declared Senator John Kerry or Ralph Nader the winner. If you've read the article, it reads like fill-in-the-blanks and 9 percent of the vote is unaccounted for... That's a lot of smaller-party votes.
I learned about the article from a dailykos.com reader yesterday, immediately called our web host, and it was removed within 5 minutes. I then posted a correction and gave it more prominence than the original article (on our web site, anyway). Even though the test article appeared for 35 minutes, we're keeping the correction on our web site for a day; I think that's fair.

We use automated feeds of Associated Press national news, politics, science, entertainment, etc. If you see how much news we have on the site, you'll understand why we use automation (I am a department of one). Our filters catch countless tests, "for media only," "embargoed until..." and other messages that aren't for broadcast. The AP and our web host, WorldNow, are working together to find out how this article got through -- whether it was something in the article header or a glitch in the automated filters.

We're sorry that it happened, but we responded quickly and responsibly. I don't think it ranks up there with the eulogy for Bob Hope on the floor of Congress three years before he died because someone saw a story on the Internet.

Ted Miller
WBAY Web Manager
[phone] [e-mail]