NPR Apologizes for Reporting that Rep. Giffords was Dead

[MadBadger]

Editor's Note: On NPR's Giffords Coverage

by Dick Meyer
January 9, 2011

Dick Meyer is executive editor of NPR News.

In the course of reporting on the tragic events in Tucson on Saturday, NPR broadcast erroneous information in our 2:01 p.m. Eastern newscast, saying that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona had been shot and killed. That information briefly appeared on NPR.org and was contained in an e-mail news alert sent to subscribers of that service. This was a serious and grave error. Thankfully, Rep. Giffords is alive today, though sadly other victims of the shootings are not. Corrections and properly updated reports were issued within minutes.

On behalf of NPR News, I apologize for this mistake to the family of Rep. Giffords, to the families of everyone affected by the shootings, to our listeners and to our readers.

The information we reported came from two different governmental sources, including a source in the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Nonetheless, in a situation so chaotic and changing so swiftly, we should have been more cautious. There were, obviously, conflicting reports from authorities and other sources. The error we made was unintentional, an error of judgment in a fast-breaking situation. It was corrected immediately. But we deeply regret the error.

Already all of us at NPR News have been reminded of the challenges and professional responsibilities of reporting on fast-breaking news at a time and in an environment where information and misinformation move at light speed. We learn, we redouble our efforts and dedication and move forward with our best efforts for the millions who rely on us every day.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/09/132785205/editors-note-on-nprs-giffords-coverage?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[bluestateguy]

1. Will somebody get fired?

Just curious.

[PBS Poll-435]

2. Every major outlet reported incorrect "news"

At least NPR has the integrity to put their apology in writing.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Yeah, what was up with that anyway?

Don't any of the corporate media do their own research anymore? Once one of the big outlets runs a certain way with a story, the rest of the corporate sheep run with the rest of the herd. Lazy way to conduct 'journalism' IMO.

[PBS Poll-435]

6. There is no true journalism anymore. It is either opinion or AP/Reuters/AFP

That is exactly why every major "news" outlet got it wrong. (And hurt a LOT of people in the process).

[MadBadger]

5. NPR is apologizing because I think they are where the "She's Dead" story came from

I know MSNBC.com had breaking news on the top of the screen and it said the source was NPR.

[still_one]

4. This isn't the first time. Did anyone really investigate WMDs, or did you just take the word of a

group of people?

[cbdo2007]

7. "information...came from two different governmental sources..."

So you had two sources saying she was dead. How many were saying she was alive?!?!?

They're so worked up to be the first with the bad news that they coudl have 20 reputable sources saying she was alive and 2 sources saying she was dead, and every single time I promise you they'll go with the report that she was dead. They don't want to be scooped.

[LTR]

8. It happens, it will always happen

Regrettable, but they apologized for it.

I recall back in '81 when Reagan was shot. Some early news reports claimed that James Brady had died. Of course, that wasn't true.

[Historic NY]

9. I was running a live KOLD feed why wasn't NPR?