The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal’s “Best of the Web” at WSJ written by the editor, James Taranto.
What Would We Do Without Experts?
“Expert Says King Tut Mask Can Be Restored After Epoxy Used”—headline, Associated Press, Jan. 24
Other Than That, the Story Was Accurate
“An earlier Reuters version of this story was amended on 16 January 2015 to correct the model of gun mentioned. It is a Winchester Model 1873, not a 1773, as we first said. The headline was also changed to make it clear that an old gun had been found, not a decrepit cowboy.”—Guardian (London), Jan. 16
Out on a Limb
“IDF Forecast for 2015: Middle East ‘Mess’ Will Continue”—headline, IsraelHayom .com, Jan. 15
Other Than That, the Story Was Accurate
From the Associated Press:
In a story Jan. 16, The Associated Press reported that the odds that nine of the 10 hottest years have occurred since 2000 are about 650 million to one. These calculations, as the story noted, treated as equal the possibility of any given year in the records being one of the hottest. The story should have included the fact that substantial warming in the years just prior to this century could make it more likely that the years since were warmer, because high temperatures tend to persist.
The story also reported that 2014 was the hottest year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA, but did not include the caveat that other recent years had average temperatures that were almost as high—and they all fall within a margin of error that lessens the certainty that any one of the years was the hottest.
An earlier version of the story quoted Rutgers University climate scientist Jennifer Francis as noting that the margin of error makes it uncertain whether 2014 was warmest, or the second, third or sixth warmest year. She said that regardless, the trend shows a “clear, consistent and incontrovertible” warming of Earth. That reference to the margin of error was dropped in later versions.
That’s some correction! In fact, it’s so extensive that its author, Seth Borenstein, is identified by name. We suppose that’s one way to get a byline.
But Don’t Call Him Late for Dinner
“Obama Calls New Saudi King Salman”—headline, TheHill, Jan. 24
For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”
