Fox News Apology
Yesterday, Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was indicted on corruption charges. It is far too early for him to apologize for anything. At the indictment stage, they are still feisty and defiant. Fair enough. Presumed innocent until proven guilty. He could still beat the rap.
Jefferson doesn't concern us today. Naturally, a congressman being indicted on corruption charges was one of the big stories of the day — because that so rarely happens — and all of the networks covered it. Including the always loved by some/hated by others Fox News.
Or, so I'm told. I get my news from the ubiquitous internets and it was there I learned that to accompany their story of the indictment of Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, Fox News ran file footage (what they in the TV business call "b-roll") of Michigan Congressman John Conyers. (See: "Rep. Jefferson indicted," Latest Politics blog)
Hmm. Both congressmen. Both Democrats. Both black. Not sure what caused the confusion there. FOX News haters will, I'm sure, have all manner of theories. Rabid Fox News fans may not see the problem.
Here is the clip, along with commentary from Talking Points Memo (TPM), via YouTube: (Yes, click here!)
Today, FOX News issued an on-air apology:
"Yesterday at this time, news of the indictment of Congressman William Jefferson came down. We mistakenly ran the wrong video to accompany this story and we apologize for that error," a Fox anchor, Martha MacCallum, told viewers at about 1:20 p.m. today. ("Fox Apologizes for Conyers/Jefferson Flub," Latest Politics blog)
With additional explanation:
An aide to Mr. Conyers said the network had called to express its regret over the incident. "They indicated that they had a staffer in New York who just hit a button and ran the wrong B-roll. They were very contrite about it and we take them at their word," the aide, who asked not to be named, said.
In the scheme of things, an insignificant incident. Somebody punched the wrong button or popped in the wrong tape back in the control room. It happens. Pretty much every newspaper has a tiny box somewhere in its pages where they run corrections and apologize for routine errors. This was the video equivalent of a typo or misspelling someone's name.
If the error wasn't Fox substituting one black congressman for another, hardly anyone would notice or care. In another week, no one will anyway, most likely because Lindsey Lohan will be caught breaking out of rehab for a midnight Slurpee run to 7-11.
But in a meantime, a helpful hint for the Fox News technical staff: John Conyers has a mustache. William Jefferson does not.
DATE OF APOLOGY: June 5, 2007
APOLOGIZER: Fox anchor Martha MacCallum, for Fox News
APOLOGIZEE: Not stated. Presumably Rep. John Conyers and Fox News viewers.
FOR: Running the wrong video footage
Jefferson doesn't concern us today. Naturally, a congressman being indicted on corruption charges was one of the big stories of the day — because that so rarely happens — and all of the networks covered it. Including the always loved by some/hated by others Fox News.
Or, so I'm told. I get my news from the ubiquitous internets and it was there I learned that to accompany their story of the indictment of Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, Fox News ran file footage (what they in the TV business call "b-roll") of Michigan Congressman John Conyers. (See: "Rep. Jefferson indicted," Latest Politics blog)
Hmm. Both congressmen. Both Democrats. Both black. Not sure what caused the confusion there. FOX News haters will, I'm sure, have all manner of theories. Rabid Fox News fans may not see the problem.
Here is the clip, along with commentary from Talking Points Memo (TPM), via YouTube: (Yes, click here!)
Today, FOX News issued an on-air apology:
"Yesterday at this time, news of the indictment of Congressman William Jefferson came down. We mistakenly ran the wrong video to accompany this story and we apologize for that error," a Fox anchor, Martha MacCallum, told viewers at about 1:20 p.m. today. ("Fox Apologizes for Conyers/Jefferson Flub," Latest Politics blog)
With additional explanation:
An aide to Mr. Conyers said the network had called to express its regret over the incident. "They indicated that they had a staffer in New York who just hit a button and ran the wrong B-roll. They were very contrite about it and we take them at their word," the aide, who asked not to be named, said.
In the scheme of things, an insignificant incident. Somebody punched the wrong button or popped in the wrong tape back in the control room. It happens. Pretty much every newspaper has a tiny box somewhere in its pages where they run corrections and apologize for routine errors. This was the video equivalent of a typo or misspelling someone's name.
If the error wasn't Fox substituting one black congressman for another, hardly anyone would notice or care. In another week, no one will anyway, most likely because Lindsey Lohan will be caught breaking out of rehab for a midnight Slurpee run to 7-11.
But in a meantime, a helpful hint for the Fox News technical staff: John Conyers has a mustache. William Jefferson does not.
DATE OF APOLOGY: June 5, 2007
APOLOGIZER: Fox anchor Martha MacCallum, for Fox News
APOLOGIZEE: Not stated. Presumably Rep. John Conyers and Fox News viewers.
FOR: Running the wrong video footage
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