First, let me get this out of the way. We blew it. Big time. Readers of Monday's Sports front saw the score for the Super Bowl as Colts 31, Saints 17. The mistake was repeated on Page 9. It doesn't get much worse. The whole country watches the Super Bowl, the whole country knows the score, and we get it wrong? Preposterous. Unbelievable. Embarrassing.
How could this happen? Many of you asked that question Monday in e-mails and phone calls to The Pilot. No, the sports department is not filled with Indianapolis Colts fans. Yes, we proof the paper. No, we did not have a Super Bowl party here.
It was, as simply as I can put it, human error. It's hard to believe we can make a mistake like this when at least a half-dozen veteran journalists were involved in producing Monday's Sports section. It's hard to believe we can mess up what is arguably the biggest sporting event of the year, but we did.
The reason I am writing this column and the reason this mistake is so disheartening is that I know it will make you question our credibility and professionalism. I imagine many of you asking, "I f they can't get the score of the Super Bowl right, what can they get right?" My answer to you is that we publish massive amounts of copy every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We get it right 99.9 percent of the time. But that's not news - the mistakes are news. And as far as errors go, this was a whopper.
We have great people producing the Sports section every day. They've worked tirelessly on our Super Bowl coverage for two weeks. Their track record is unassailable. I am as proud of them today as I have ever been. I met with them Monday, and believe me, they feel awful. But we are human, and we make mistakes.
To our loyal readers and sports fans, I apologize. To the New Orleans Saints fans who might have wanted a keepsake edition of The Pilot, I apologize. We did remake the page for those who want to buy a Sports front suitable for framing. Just go here to order it. This is not a reprint of the actual newspaper. It’s too late to print that. It’s a glossy poster of the Sports front only, just like the other front pages we typically sell after they are published.
Tomorrow is another day. I trust it will be better than Monday.
Thanks for listening.
- Denis Finley, editor, The Virginian-Pilot
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I wouldn't
have known there was a mistake if someone didn't tell me since I never look at the Sports section.
Copy Editor Job
I've applied twice for openings the Pilot had for copy editor positions. Twice I've been turned down. And I have experience.
Maybe I have too much experience for this paper. I think I'll take my skills somewhere else.
re: eBay
I stand corrected, there are 2 copies listed. I must have overlooked them the first time, as they have been up 19 hours as I'm typing.
no reserve:
No one will be profiting from the error on e-bay, right?
re: eBay
I checked around lunch time and didn't see any listed.
The whole country
does not watch the Super Bowl, a large number yes but not the whole country.
The whole country
does not watch the Super Bowl, a large number yes but not the whole country.
what is fair
Will you accept the same excuses from local politicians, police, or company owners when they make an "honest mistake".
I appreciate what you said but lawyers sue companies for less with no compassion for honest mistakes.
Really?
Are you REALLY charging for a new correct copy? Seriously? I have been a Saints fan for many years, this is history, and you want to make fans pay $40 -$80 to get a correct copy? Your out of your mind. You are absolutely crazy if you think someone is going to pay for that. I would rather gladly take my money else where to purchase a $100 copy of the right thing, rather than pay for something you messed up. You should be handing these corrected versions out. No selling them. Absolutely Ridiculous. Chalk up another lost customer.
It is
a high quality glossy poster, not an actual reprint. One can order one of pretty much any page of any day's paper. They shouldn't make them free just because of an error.
99.9%
Virginian Pilot:
We all make mistakes, at least my wife tells me I do.
99.9% - do you remember about 6-7 years ago when the Pilot reported all men in a coal mine were safe? Kentucky or West Virginia? Then, all except one was dead? Remember that?
My point: You were forced to admit these two errors. How many times have we had "biased" reports? No one actually knows, but how many times does the Pilot favor one political party over another?
I think the Pilot does a good job, but do all readers know when you "slant" an article to fit your needs?
No big problem with the score; it is the other reporting that bothers me.
Subscriber for 18 years. Take care.
no more subscriptions for me....
how dare the virginian pilot to charge me more money on top of my current subscription to re order a "corrected version" of the sports page? why should loyal customers have to pay for YOUR mistake?!? this is beyond ridiculous to say the least. i cant count how many times the pilot has messed up in the paper, and NEVER apologized until now. then after the editor's "heart felt" apology, right at the end, "send us a check to get your corrected version?!?" i dont think so!WHY did'nt you just give all customers a free corrected sports page today?!? your apology went right out the window as far as i'm concerned. i have came to the conclusion a LONG time ago that the pilot staff does not embrase the concerns of thier readers. this is it with me and the pilot from here on out. no more checks from me. one less customer for the pilot. good day...
The Saints Won?
The Pilot gets it it 99.9% of the time? As proof of that, just look at their directed link toward the end of the article, "Go to here to order it." Really? Maybe it was a misplaced decimal point. More like 9.99%.
Geaux Saints
I was born in New Orleans and have spent my entire life here. I have been a fan since the city was awarded a franchise and have lived through some tough years and this seems to be the way alot of things worked out over the years.
The misprint has made that edition of your newspaper a much sought after souvenir. No offence taken, we love it!!!!
99.9? No Way
The only thing I take issue with in Mr. Finley's explanation is his claim that The Pilot gets it right 99.9% of the time. There are countless errors--grammatical, factual, typographical--that just go unnoticed by The Pilot's editors--or "team leaders" as they call them.
Don't be too quick to congratulate yourself for a 99.9% error-free record, because it just isn't supported by the facts.
Just An Additional Revenue Opportunity
I don't have a problem with such a mistake being made. (Actually, I prefer that version of the game's outcome!) I appreciate and accept the apology issued. To err is human... However, it does seem inappropriate to charge those wanting a souvenir edition extra for a corrected copy. The message comes across as "Here's your 75-cent version of the news--if you want it right, it'll cost ya extra!"
Super Blunder
It's nice to read someone taking the blame for their mistakes and not trying to blame anyone else. Humble apologizes are rare today. Your's was.
REPRINT
Your paper makes a HUGE error and I am supposed to pay you $79 for a corrected framable(yes I am a Saintas fan)version! And people thought the Saints winning the Super Bowl was when hell froze over! No wonder the children of this nation know absolutely nothing about accountability. The Virginian-Pilot, Toyota and the Chinese drywall manufacturers should go into business together, you all would be very succesful. How about I keep my money, frame your mistake and cancel my subscription! Being a military family your framed "mistake" will travel all over the world with us...sure it will be a great conversation starter. Do the accountable thing and make the reprint available for free..I know when pigs fly right. WHO DAT!
It's not...
exactly a reprint it is the glossy poster they'd be selling even if there wasn't a mistake. If they were selling a newsprint copy I could see the objection.
wow!
I needed a good laugh and your lack of anger control gave it to me. Thanks.
To the Va pilot you make mistakes regularly but I have a hard time comparing you to Chinese drywall. It will be okay.