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Show PERSPECTIVE The Salt LokeTrihune A2 Sunday, August 9, 1998 This probablyis a mistake. but today's topic is mistakes ‘That, of course, isn’t good enough for many readers who have high e: tions for news-media accurecy. Bully for Ours, specifically There are a number of secondary reaSons why errors occur on the pages of The Salt Lake Tribune and other daily the readers. You would think that newspapers €s clarifications if the request is not are the only news medium to make mistakes. Whenwas thelast time you newspapers. Among the moreprevalent: ® Thereportergets it wrong The source the reporter accurately quoted had it wrong Some editor makes a mistake in edit- ing the story ®A technicalglitch eradicates crucial words or sentences. Corners were cuttoo closely ® Rushing to print in order to be first with the story @Carelessness anywhere in the treacherous flow toward publication true geneses of most errors, how. ever, be they simple typographicalslipUPS or errata of a more substantive nature, are humansattempting to research, when the concern centers around material not included in a story, we may fewererrors than newspapers per address theissue in a follow-up story. When we don’t believe we made an error, we won't issue a correction. Aggrieved parties and the reading 1,000 words, but errors in print are more noticeable and lasting. On air they seem fleeting. TV presents infi nitelyless information than that contained in a single edition of a newspaper and, therefore, has fewer possibilities for screw-ups. And, formalpolicy notwithstanding, TV simply won't expend precious air time to correct routine wrongs of past news- public are not amused by blunders, Nor ought they be. A national Freedom Forum symposium recently & small novel in 10 hours. The noisy, dising, pressure-filled, boiler-room atof newsroomsare breeding mea culpa; “The witness in the serial- lead page of the section in which they occur with this exception: Errors in the A suspect forcing his attentions on a rhino section — the most-read page in the pa- kissing a wino.” But if what is wrong is not an error of The Tribune rectifies errors on the Srounds for journalistic viruses. It's a r we don't have more problems than we do. Truth be known, there are more errors in the newspaper than you notice. Truth also be known, errors constitute a tiny Portion of what is printed. Added to our Art Departmentrecently section normally are grouped with Utahsection errors on the frontofthe latter ing a correction, such as in this sort of a kissertrial erroneously was quoted in Saturday's Tribune as saying he saw the tographer Michael Miller), a student at SalLake Community College. They will sion of facts or incorrect framing of a join a team we have assembied to sharp- story, are next to impossible to correct. Ourstories are nothing more than humans, trained in tracking down and pre- Tribune on a daily basis. Note the subtle enhancements to this very en and to add impact to the presentation page this morning. senting facts under deadline pressures, telling stories in a subjectively synthe- sized but hopefully fair manner.In that endeavor, a newspaperis as accurate as fact, the problem becomes a bit more complicated. The Tribune often publish- published on a weekly basis, Joining us on the same day was Michael Miller (no relation to Tribune pho- @ Many news sources are reluctant to complain for fear of retaliation. @ While erroneousfacts are easily made right, larger issues, such as omis- ‘The witness actually said the suspect was per — as are mistakes madein sections the years. The younger Noyce is a student at the University of Utah, abouterrors (see opening sentence). Furthermore, we attempt notto reiterate the erroneous material when publish- ika Sykes (237-2015), News Editor Terri Bllefsen (237-2045), a deputy editor or me (237-2011). If it's wrong, we will attemptto right it, Oo Sean Noyce, whose father, Robert, has made his mark on the Deseret News over reporters and editors are defensive Editors’ handiwork on Tribune page proof. Most newspapers worthy of the name have an easily-triggered corrections policyfor errors of fact. In that, we are about the onlyinstitution in town that ownsup to its mistakes in public. the attention of one of the following: the specific reporter, Reader Advocate Shin- are two young graphic artists, One is found. A chunk of the public believes casts, Write, edit and publish the equivalent of If you believe something you read in The Tribune is , then bring it to frivolous, specious or made with obvious ulterior motives. Many times, Saw a correction on TV news? Lack of candor does not mean TV makes any lay person repeating what he or she saw or heard. H REVIEW MASSA AOA See ae « By Steve Newman Sino Flood Disaster More heavy rainfall in cenphe tral China sent the highest crest on record surging downthe Yangtze River, killing hun: dreds of peopie. Officials scrambled to prevent someofthelargercities along the the country's largest river from being flooded by blowing up dikes upstream from the population centers. The move sacrificed large Compiled by _TOM HARVEY @ Colombia: New President Andres Pastrana promised at his swearing-in Fri- daytobattle endemic corruption and negotiate peace with a 34-year-old leftist insurgency. Colombians hope the 44-year-old formertelevision journalist can restore authority to an office whose clout was eroded under the scandal-plagued administration of outgoing President Emesto Samper. @ Peru: Prime Minister Javier Valle Riestra stepped down Fridayafter serving only two months, saying he could not stay in powergivenhis differences with the gov- ernment of President Alberto Fujimori. Valle Riestra said he wasresigning because of repeated clashes with hard-liners in Fujimori’s government andthe armed forces, @ Canada: To the rhythm of drums and ancient songs, chiefs of the Nisga’a Indians neared the end ofa century-old quest Tues- daybysigning a treaty that gives them self- government and land rights. Their chiefs stoodintriumphon the podium, along with top officials of the federal and British Columbia governments, which negotiated the treatyover the past 25 years. @ Grenada: Capping a three-nation tracts of farmland which are now inundated, One of the dikes appears to have been exploded prematurely, before soldiers andcivilians were able to evacuate the area. Vicious torrents swept hundreds of military personnel and local residents to their deaths after the dike burst in Kenyan Bird Menace Millions of destructive quetea birds have invaded the wheatfields of Kenya's Rift | Forthe week ending August 7, 1998 Oy E-mail earth@sip net ae Valley Province, according to a 2 + ie Guineain July Tropical Storms More than 5,000 houses colTyphoonOito formed just @$ Much as 20 percentof their crops off the northem Philippines lapsed when a strong quake struck due to the birds. Teams from the then took aim on Taiwan westem China's Xinjiang region, but country's agriculture ministry have ‘only three people were injured. where { four people died in storm: beenfighting the birds daily, using also felt in the cenmotonzed ground chemical related accidents Otto thencrossed tralQuakeswere Philippines, eastem Japan, Iran sprayers and airplanes. One flock the TaiwanStrait and butteted the and south-central Alaska nearthe town of Nakuru numbered Chinese mainland with high winds and heavy rain, about 4 million birds. It is believed Wildfires that the bird ulation has Hurricane Estelle chumed the Siberian Wildfires raging out of conexploded due to El Nifio rains last Pacific between Baja California and trol across Russia's year that produced a bumper crop Hawaii, losing force late in the week Siberian region, just below of grass in the region. Tropical storm Alex, thefirst of the Arctic circle, have ravaged Atlantic hurricane season, dissi- the Nearly 400,000 acres of taiga, Romanian Heat Wave pated north of Puerto Rico. according to the Itar-Tass news my Two weeks of oppressive agency. A state of emergency has Earthquakes report in Nairobi's Daily Nation Newspaper. Some farmers havelos! ing to help people who have fainted in the streets. Temperatures soar- ing to 102 degrees Fahrenheit caused one doctor to faint during an astic crowd that if slavery could not last “nightmarish,” with fans as the only available cooling devices unilateral cease-fire last week throughout southern Sudan, where a 15-year war has aggravated a worsening famine. The an- os S/ nouncement cameon the eveof peace talks Tuesday between the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Vostok (Russia) / Antarctica the region due to the large number of ailments being caused by the smoke @ Algeria: A U.N. panelinvestigating a Muslim insurgency wrapped up its mission last week with talks with Algeria's presi- Maiay Monkey Raids dent, while officials reported a massacre thatleft at least 12 civilians dead, The latest killings, blamed on Muslim militants, northeastem Malaysia earlier this week, scaring patients and broughtto 69 the number ofcivilians killed ‘making off with medical equipment. “The monkeys dashed into the clinic since the U.N. mission arrived nearly two weeks ago. There were no immediate de- tails of the six-member panel's meeting with President Liamine Zeroual. despite the staff's attemptsto keep them out,” said Ahmad Shamsuddin, director of the Terengganu Wikdtife and National Park Department. They ransacked the clinic in been declared in the Khabarovsk Tala Terengganu, destroying At least three people died region where conifer forests lie equipment. There have been many and hundreds of buildings between the Siberian steppes and Complaints of monkey attacksin res- heat in Romania have killed at least 12 people and sent emergency services rush: operation at a Bucharest hospital where conditions were described as forever, then the U.S. economic blockade @ Sudan: The government declared a the Jiayu district of Hubeiprovince tour of the Caribbean on Monday, Cuban. President Fidel Castro assured an enthusi- Compiled by PETER LOZANCICH AND BRIAN MACINTYRE were damaged when two strong earthquakes, oneregistering the Arctic tundra, More than 1,700 troops and 400 vehicles have been a magnitude of 7.1, rocked dispatched to fight the blazes, but Ecuador's Pacific coast. Thousands airbome assaults were impossible of residents rushed away trom over the weekend due to the thick coastal areas, tearing a tsunami pall of smoke that blocked visibility ‘similar to the one that killed thou: of thefires Authorities urged resi- sands of people in Papua New dents to remain indoors or to leave @ Angola:The president assured a senior U.N. envoy last Monday that his government was committed to peace ulation has grown rapidly and offiGals plan to relocate some of the animals, reporters after meeting with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in the Angolan Additional Sources: US Climate Analysis Center. US. Earthquake intormanon Center 4nd the Workd Meteorological Organization capital of Luanda. Brahimi is on an emergency mission prompted by a spate of recent violence, including the massacre of 100 civilians in a remote northern village. of his country cannot last forever. @ Brazil: A formerpolice officer who last year was filmed beating and shooting motorists has been sentenced to a 44month prison sentence A military court sentenced Otavio Lourenco Gambra — nicknamed Rambo — Wednesday. In March 1997, the nation was shocked byimages showing Gambraand otherpolice officers torturing and extorting money from motorists at a roadblock @ Bolivia: In a speech marking his first year in office, President Hugo Banzer said Thursday hehad strengthened the judicial systemand that he would now givepriority to the war on drugs Banzer called atten- tion to the introduction of special courts to ‘oversee and monitor other courts widely considered corrupt. Banzerinsisted that in the coming year he would destroy all coca plants that feed the cocaine industry. @ Honduras: rhe country’s top judge denounced suspension of a $4.1 million USS. aid program on Tuesday, saying the United States is trying to blackmail his country into freeing a murderer. A U.S. congressional committee recently voted to suspend $4.1 million in aid to Honduras in response to the 10-year sentence imposed on Gustave Valle, a U.S, citizen convicted of murder in a land dispute. PACIFIC / FAR EAST / MIDDLE EAST tions and shown off yo-yo tricks in television ads, man reparation funds for elderly Holocaust survivors living in bleak conditions in mental hospitals. Doctors at Abarbanel Hospital near Tel Aviv said government trustees had refused to approve spending @ Gaza: ThePalestinian Journalists As- unveiled his Cabinet only a week ago, and voters already have decided they don’t like it. The Cabinet is supported by less than one-third of voters polled, and 47 percent say they do not support the new administration, the Asahi newspaper reported Monday. That figure was the worst disap: proval rating for a new Cabinet since the paper began taking polls on the subject in 1955, excluding the brief, scandal-tainted government of Prime Minister Sousuke Unoin 1989 Harvey, a former correspondent in Latin vev@sltrib.com, @ Turkey:A playwright was sentenced ‘Tuesday to 24 years in prison for staging a play in Turkey portraying the military as persecutors of devout Muslims. Four cast The Falt Lake Tribune (ISSN on4e-s802) > Petablished April 18. 1871 Published daity and Sunday ©) the Kearns Tyfhane Corporstion. 143 Sowth Main St Soh Lake City Utah ALLL Pertodioals Sel Lake Oey, Utah POSTMASTER Paid at address Sunday Only (Utah) ‘H1L00 Daily & Sunday (Owteide of Region) $35.80 decision was taken after a conference of the Arab Journalist Associations in July members were sentenced to 16 years. All all forms of normalization ofrelations with Israel.” @ Vatican City: Anitalian court has held that Vatican Radio has exclusive voted unanimously to “confront and stop five were convicted for provoking religious hatred with the play “An Enemy of God,” which depicts a country where Muslims are Oppressed bythe military and then retaliate by declaring a holy war. It was staged in several towns last year at a time when Turkey’s staunchly secular military was pressuring the Islamic-led government to Back downon its pro-Islam policies. The government eventually was forced to resign @ Singapore: yo-yo craze in Singa- pore is contributing to juvenile delinquency. Thefts of the toys accounted for almost half ofall juvenile shoplifting cases in May, an increase from just over a third in April The New Paper reported Monday. Yo-yos have taken Singapore by storm in part be. cause of American yo-yo expert Hans Van Daily and Sunday Sundays Only & Thankegreing nn ne Member Audit Norra of (Irculations lieved to hold the remains of about 500 ee have been discovered in remote chant sung by Pope John Paul IT during a New Year's Day Mass last year, Last month, bowing to a Vatican veto, Italian Aceh province, a human-rights group said Wednesday, A lawyer with the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation said he and other activists were led to the graves during a designer Kean Etro gave up plans to em- bellish his fashion show on Rome's Spanish teps with a recording of the Vatican Radio had throatedBe visit last month to Indonesia's northern- to stop him, most province, where a separatistrebellion has been going on since the late 1980s. Desk editor Jennifer Skordas worked as an editor for an Bnoglish-language newspaper in Tokyo. She welcomes ¢ mail at jskordas@sltrib.com. This column is based on Tribune wire-service re ports, Brian Mac Intyre and Peter Lorancich are Tribune desk editors, Mac Intyre is a former reporter for Irish newspapers, while Lozancich spent several years in Burope. This column is based on Tribune wire-service reports. Mac Intyre invites e-mail at bmac@sltrib.com; Lozancich at loxanc@sitrib.com, CIRCULATION NUMBERS ————$—<—$————— NEWSROOM NUMBERS ———$— $—_ 237.2085 Reader Advocate 237.2011 Recreation Pee same mien delivery replacemeat oe weekdays and Saturdays, call before 14 a.m. Sanday call betee | pa. Per carrier aad heme Bastness New Bair collation and billing information, cell Memday thromph Friday. (a.m te Peatures/ freak delivery information mew vubscriptions restarting mubeeriptiem. cae Spm, Seterday, 4 asm. te 14 am, Sunday dam tet pam Al other areas a rights to use of the pope's voice. The deci- sion mandated that all copies of the compact disc “Forgive Us” produced by two Italian musicians be withdrawn from sale. reproduced part of a Gregorian @ Indonesia: Eleven mass graves be- Salt Lake sooth Davin counties v “Peoplewill be up there, so it is necessary to take credits,” he said. from the organization said last week. The Compiled by JENNIFER SKORDAS Der te My Salt Lake Tribune atthe abowe adress 4 Semenov told the ITAR-Tass news agency. journalists who break the rules,an official By Mall (4-week period) Carter Delivery 4 eed period) Daily Sunday (Utah da. Wye) $1400 Deity un $9.60 which runs the Mir, has taken out $33 million in commercial credit to finance the Aug. 13 launch, company President Yuri engaging in nonprofessional contact with Israelis and has threatened to blacklist SUBSCRIPTIO RATES eeneneeNnnae Daity Onty (Utah) vide more cash, a news agency reported Tuesday. Russia's Energiya company, sociation has forbidden its members from the moneyontelevisions, air conditioners, holidayparties and other quality of life improvements. The survivors, many in their 80s, suffer from illnesses that include @ Japan:Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi Space station is being launched on credit, despite the government's promises to pro- Dan Elzen, whohas puton live demonstra- learn Wednesday of the government's re- fusal to release millions of dollars in Ger- Salt Lake Tribune desk editor Tom \menica, based this column on news service reports He welcomes e-mail at thar- Both sides are reportedly building up their litaries, @ Russia: The next mission to the Mir @ israel: The public was shocked to acute depression and schizophrenia, which are attributed to their experiences in the Nazi death camps. ite signs that the country is sliding back into civil war. “The president and the government reaffirmed their commitmentto the full implementation of the 1994 peace accord,” U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi told idential areas and on the beaches, Shamsuddin said. 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