Particularly in the geography department.
Can you spot the unacceptable error in an AP story describing a U-20 World Cup soccer match between Mexico (Mehico!) and Spain picked up by ESPN?
"Spain recovered quickly and found its usual rhythm of short passes
and moves in midfield. However, it struggled to reach its forwards
against Mexico's well-placed defense.
The South Americans, who
missed suspended midfielder Jesus Escoboza, created danger through quick
counterattacks, though Raul Lopez's header in the 19th went just over
and a thundering 20-meter shot by Jorge Espericueta hit the crossbar in
the 31st."
The thing that gets me is have you ever read the qualifications and requirements on job descriptions? Short of being Godstein Edison, you won't meet most of those.
Yet.
Yet we get treated to writers who think Mexico is in South America.
Yet.
****
Proofreader: I think Mexico (Mehico!) is in North America.
Editor: Hm. You may be right. But don't tell Mikey. It'll destroy his confidence. He's sensitive, you know.
PR: Yeah but, it's not accurate.
Editor: Right. But Mexico (Mehico!) "should" be in South American, right? I mean, they do speak Spanish there. Who made such a decision?
PR: I don't know, sir but I don't think it's up to us to make that call.
Editor (looks over at Mikey who falls over his desk): Fuck it. Mexico is in South America. No one will notice anyway. Nobody reads World Cup soccer articles.
PR: It's the most popular sport in the world. Some are bound to notice.
Editor: Like who? The Russians? Those pigs.
PR: Like I don't know. Mexicans? Geography teachers. Literate people.
Editor (distracted): Did you say something? Look I don't speak Chalcatongo Mixtec. Just run the article and bring me the 'Obama is swell' bin for article ideas.
PR: Sigh.
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