All the locally produced stories heard on New England Public Radio frequencies and seen on NEPR.net must go through our strict editorial process. Occasionally, we make mistakes. Here’s the list, beginning in May of 2015:
- A story posted to NEPR.net on Thursday, March 2, 2017, included an incorrect spelling for Oplontis.
- A story posted to NEPR.net on Monday, December 26, 2016, said MeHI “oversees health technology in” Massachusetts, which overstated the quasi-state agency’s charge. We also changed the story to clarify which agency is responsible for issuing the regulations.
- A story that first aired on Thursday, December 15, 2016, incorrectly identified Martin Pion as Rev. Martin Pion.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on December 8, 2016, we stated that UConn women’s basketball beat “top-ranked” Notre Dame. Notre Dame was actually ranked number 2 at the time, while UConn was ranked number 1.
- A story posted to NEPR.net on December 5, 2016, incorrectly listed Holyoke as using — or planning to use — the crimereports.com platform.
- A story posted to NEPR.net on October 24, 2016, included an incorrect spelling for Dan Kubick’s last name.
- During local newscasts in Morning Edition on October 17, 2016, we incorrectly said a story about alleged abuse by 12 Springfield police officers was published in The Republican newspaper on Sunday. It was posted to MassLive on Sunday, but did not appear in print until Monday.
- A story that first aired October 10, 2016, contained a confusing typo. Charter school supporters — not opponents — have raised more than $15 million.
- A story that first aired September 15, 2016, incorrectly said the late James Bickford was parent to four girls. We should have said three girls and one boy.
- During local newscasts in Morning Edition on September 12, 2016, we ran a story from the Associated Press about a fatal motorcycle accident that incorrectly identified the deceased. The story should have identified the victim as James Bickford of Holyoke,
- During a local newscast in All Things Considered on September 2, 2016, we incorrectly ran a story that was scheduled to air two days later. As such, the story said, “Earlier this morning, Mother Teresa officially become a saint,” when that had not yet occurred.
- A story posted to NEPR.net on August 22, 2016, included an incorrect spelling for Madama Butterfly.
- A story that first aired August 6, 2016, incorrectly identified the location of the interview as an historic “meetinghouse.” It was a tavern.
- A story posted to NEPR.net on August 4, 2016, included the incorrect date for the qualification round for rhythmic gymnastics at the Rio Olympics.
- During a local newscast at the beginning of Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! on July 23, 2016, we incorrectly stated that the Democratic National Convention would be held in Pittsburgh. We should have said Philadelphia.
- During a local newscast in All Things Considered on May 30, 2016, we read a story from the Associated Press that incorrectly said three people died in Springfield as a result of the tornado on June 1, 2011. The deaths were not in Springfield.
- A story posted posted to NEPR.net on May 20, 2016, stated the incorrect location of the Hinton State Laboratory.
- During a local newscast in All Things Considered on May 18, 2016, we mistakenly said a surtax on personal income above a million dollars passed a joint session of the Massachusetts legislature with 102 votes. The correct number was 135.
- A story that first aired May 3, 2016, stated the wrong location for the Grafton health network. It is based in Virginia, not West Virginia.
- During a local newscast in All Things Considered on May 2, 2016, we mistakenly said former Patriots tackle Ron Brace III died “last week.” We should have said “last month.”
- A story that first aired April 20, 2016, misrepresented the amount Northampton is requesting from Smith College under their PILOT program this year. It is $122,929. The story also incorrectly stated that Smith is paying in excess of what the city is requesting through a non-PILOT gift. Smith is paying the city $100,000. The web story has also been updated to include additional payments from UMass Amherst not reflected in the original version.
- A story that first aired March 24, 2016, misidentified the interim CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center as Steve Pick. His last name is Pike.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on March 17, 2016, we mistakenly said charter school opponents launched a public campaign “today.” We should have said “yesterday.”
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on March 16, 2016, we mistakenly said the Holy Cross men’s basketball team was playing an NCAA tournament play-in game “tomorrow evening.” We should have said “tonight.”
- A story that first aired February 2, 2016, incorrectly stated that Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy was proposing a new two-year budget. He is, in fact, proposing changes for the second year of the budget which began last year.
- A story we first aired on December 15, 2015, noted “misconduct allegations against a jazz host” at WMUA. That host actually described his show’s music as “contemporary classical and experimental.”
- A story posted to NEPR.net on December 8, 2015, included an incorrect spelling of Mark Melnik’s last name.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on November 24, 2015, we mistakenly said the Paris terror attacks occurred “last week.” We should have said “eleven days ago.”
- In a story that first aired on October 21, 2015, we misidentified Patrick Archbald as the Interim Deputy Police Chief at UMass Amherst. That was based on our interview with Archbald, who is, in fact, Interim Police Chief.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on October 6, 2015, we mistakenly said Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal unveiled a refugee processing proposal “today.” We should have said “yesterday.”
- A story posted on NEPR.net on September 25, 2015, included an error in the headline. The performer’s first name is Bryce.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on September 25, 2015, we read a story that incorrectly stated that Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, feeling dehydrated, was helped off the stage following a speech at UMass Amherst. That story came to us from the Associated Press, which later issued a correction. The wire service noted that Yellen walked off the stage without assistance.
- The web version of this story from September 22, 2015, included an incorrect spelling of poet Amy Dryansky’s last name.
- A story that aired on September 15, 2015, in Morning Edition about a play premiering at the Hartford Stage included the wrong title for that play. “An Opening In Time” is the correct title.
- A story that aired on August 31, 2015, and posted on NEPR.net that same day, said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would “likely” extend a public comment deadline. But the agency had already extended the deadline on the Friday before.
- A story posted on NEPR.net on August 31, 2015, included an incorrect spelling for attorney Benjamin Keehn’s last name.
- The headline on a story from August 17, 2015, about a new drug trafficking law requested by Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey, mistakenly said “tracking” instead of “trafficking.”
- A story from August 5, 2015, incorrectly described a ballot question proposal in Massachusetts. The story said the proposal would increase taxes by four percent for people who make more than a million dollars a year. In fact, the proposal would increase the tax rate by four percentage points. The higher rate would not apply to the first $1 million in income.
- A story and interview segment from August 3, 2015, stated that a deadline for ballot initiative petitions in Massachusetts was Thursday, August 6th. The deadline is Wednesday, August 5th.
- A story from July 21, 2015, featured an inaccurate web headline. It said Congressman Neal “would” vote against federal funds if western and central Massachusetts don’t get their share of infrastructure improvements. It should have said Neal would consider voting against the funds.
- A story and interview segment from July 15, 2015, misspelled the last name of the editor of the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. It should be Charlie St. Amand, not St. Armand.
- A story from July 13, 2015, incorrectly stated that the intended target of a Massachusetts terror suspect was a college “cafeteria.” That’s not clear from court documents.
- During a local newscast in All Things Considered on July 8, 2015, we incorrectly said a new Connecticut law allows local election officials to use the state’s online voter registration system. That had already been allowed. The new law allows the online system to be used to enroll new voters who are registering on Election Day.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on June 30, 2015, we mistakenly said Boston 2024 released its revised Olympic bid “today.” We should have said “yesterday.”
- A story posted on NEPR.net on June 17, 2015 misspelled Bob Caret’s name. It also misidentified him as the UMass Board president. He is the university president.
- During a local newscast in Morning Edition on June 5, 2015, we incorrectly said the Connecticut state budget had passed the legislature “yesterday.” The budget actually passed on June 3, 2015.
- A story posted on NEPR.net on June 4, 2015, that had not yet aired on the radio incorrectly stated that the chikungunya virus is not lethal. It should have said the virus is rarely lethal.
- A story from May 15, 2015, about a visit to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home by members of the F-22 Raptor team incorrectly located Westover Air Reserve Base in Westfield, Mass. It is in Chicopee.
- In a story from May 13, 2015, about the heroin crisis leading to an increase in the number of grandparents taking custody of their grandchildren, we misidentified one such grandmother, Michelle Howe, as Michelle Howell.
- In an installment of our Words In Transit series airing May 6, 2015, featuring the personal stories of immigrants and refugees, we incorrectly stated that the disastrous Haitian earthquake occurred in 2011. It was in 2010.
Much of the news coverage you hear on our frequencies and found on our website is produced by NPR. We carry the network’s programming, but are not involved in its editorial process. You can contact NPR and see a list of its corrections at NPR.org.