Monday 3 October 2011
Daily Mail watched Knox guilty verdict in alternate universe, insists Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is insisting that it published family reactions and prosecutor quotes to an Amanda Knox verdict that was never delivered due to a brief trip to an alternate universe.
The Mail briefly published a story claiming that the appeal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito had failed, including detailed reactions of those in court.
Daily Mail reporter Nick Pisa told us, “It definitely happened, I saw it with my own eyes. There’s was a flash of light and then Amanda Knox was crying, before being taken back to prison – and all the prosecutors were celebrating.”
“I took copious notes and then there was another flash of light.”
“I filed my copy quickly like any good reporter, only to find out that in this universe she was found not guilty. I’m as shocked as anyone.”
Mail reports Knox is guilty
Media analysts have suggested that this latest incident points to to the fact that the universe is clearly ganging up on the Daily Mail.
However one analyst disagreed, telling us, “This is not the first time we’ve had to assume someone at the Daily Mail doesn’t have their feet planted firmly in reality.”
A Daily Mail spokesperson concluded, “Of course our reporter briefly visited an alternative universe, why would anyone think different?”
“The alternative explanation is that we completely made up a story that we thought might happen, made up some quotes for it, and then completely fabricated the reactions of her family. I know which is more believable.”
and from The Guardian Greenslade Blog:
The Mail was not the only British news outlet to make the error. The Sun and Sky News did it too and yes - hands up here - so did The Guardian in its live blog.
It would appear that a false translation of the judge's summing up caused the problem, leading to papers jumping the gun.
So why has the Mail suffered the greatest flak? In time-honoured fashion, echoing the hot metal days of Fleet Street, it prepared a story lest the verdict go the other way.
But it over-egged the pudding by inventing "colour" that purported to reveal Knox's reaction along with the responses of people in the court room.
It even included quotes from prosecutors that were, self-evidently, totally fake.
In other words, by publishing its standby story, the Mail exposed itself as guilty of fabrication.
Here's some of the invented colour writing:
Daily Mail watched Knox guilty verdict in alternate universe, insists Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is insisting that it published family reactions and prosecutor quotes to an Amanda Knox verdict that was never delivered due to a brief trip to an alternate universe.
The Mail briefly published a story claiming that the appeal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito had failed, including detailed reactions of those in court.
Daily Mail reporter Nick Pisa told us, “It definitely happened, I saw it with my own eyes. There’s was a flash of light and then Amanda Knox was crying, before being taken back to prison – and all the prosecutors were celebrating.”
“I took copious notes and then there was another flash of light.”
“I filed my copy quickly like any good reporter, only to find out that in this universe she was found not guilty. I’m as shocked as anyone.”
Mail reports Knox is guilty
Media analysts have suggested that this latest incident points to to the fact that the universe is clearly ganging up on the Daily Mail.
However one analyst disagreed, telling us, “This is not the first time we’ve had to assume someone at the Daily Mail doesn’t have their feet planted firmly in reality.”
A Daily Mail spokesperson concluded, “Of course our reporter briefly visited an alternative universe, why would anyone think different?”
“The alternative explanation is that we completely made up a story that we thought might happen, made up some quotes for it, and then completely fabricated the reactions of her family. I know which is more believable.”
I think, therefore I am (not a Daily Mail reader)
Copyright © 2011, NewsThump. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011, NewsThump. All rights reserved.
and from The Guardian Greenslade Blog:
The Mail was not the only British news outlet to make the error. The Sun and Sky News did it too and yes - hands up here - so did The Guardian in its live blog.
It would appear that a false translation of the judge's summing up caused the problem, leading to papers jumping the gun.
So why has the Mail suffered the greatest flak? In time-honoured fashion, echoing the hot metal days of Fleet Street, it prepared a story lest the verdict go the other way.
But it over-egged the pudding by inventing "colour" that purported to reveal Knox's reaction along with the responses of people in the court room.
It even included quotes from prosecutors that were, self-evidently, totally fake.
In other words, by publishing its standby story, the Mail exposed itself as guilty of fabrication.
Here's some of the invented colour writing:
"As Knox realised the enormity of what judge Hellman was saying she sank into her chair sobbing uncontrollably while her family and friends hugged each other in tears.
A few feet away Meredith's mother Arline, her sister Stephanie and brother Lyle, who had flown in especially for the verdict remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, glancing over just once at the distraught Knox family.
Prosecutors were delighted with the verdict and said that 'justice has been done' although they said on a 'human factor it was sad two young people would be spending years in jail'".
The fiction got better and better. Sorry, I mean worse and worse ...A few feet away Meredith's mother Arline, her sister Stephanie and brother Lyle, who had flown in especially for the verdict remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, glancing over just once at the distraught Knox family.
Prosecutors were delighted with the verdict and said that 'justice has been done' although they said on a 'human factor it was sad two young people would be spending years in jail'".
"Following the verdict Knox and [Raphael] Sollecito were taken out of court escorted by prison guards and into a waiting van which took her back to her cell at Capanne jail near Perugia and him to Terni jail, 60 miles away.
Both will be put on a suicide watch for the next few days as psychological assessments are made on each of them but this is usual practice for long term prisoners."
Both will be put on a suicide watch for the next few days as psychological assessments are made on each of them but this is usual practice for long term prisoners."
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