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NBC Apologizes For Editing Zimmerman 911 Call

Hugh Pickens writes "The Washington Post reports that NBC has completed its investigation into the Today show's mishandling of the police dispatcher's conversation with George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case with a finding of error, plus an apology. The apology addresses the show's failure to accurately abridge the conversation between Zimmerman and the dispatcher in this high-profile case. This is how the program portrayed a segment of that conversation: Zimmerman: 'This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black' Here what was actually said: Zimmerman: 'This guy looks like he's up to no good. Or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about.' Dispatcher: 'OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?' Zimmerman: 'He looks black.' In an appearance on Fox News's Hannity, Brent Bozell, president of the conservative Media Research Center, called this omission on the part of Today an 'all-out falsehood' — not just a distortion or misrepresentation. 'On the good front, [NBC] acknowledges the mistake and apologizes to viewers for the bad editing. It's a forthright correction and spares us any excuses about the faulty portrayal. On the bad front, the statement is skimpy on the details on just how the mistake unfolded,' writes Erik Wemple. 'In light of all that's happened, Zimmerman may be a tough person for a news network to apologize to, but that's just the point: Apologies are hard.'"

6 of 1,005 comments (clear)

  1. Apologies... by damien_kane · · Score: 5, Funny

    We apologise for the fault in the subtitles. Those responsible have been sacked.

  2. Re:This IS NOT NEWS FOR NERDS by tgd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please stop, this is not news for nerds.

    Editors stay in your lane. There is nothing relevant in this case to tech, or nerd issues.

    Nerds frequently walk around looking awkward, wearing hoodies, and scaring simpletons who think they must be D&D satan worshippers. Seems relevant to me.

    (And, yes, the D&D satan thing probably is dating me ...)

  3. Re:Error My Ass by Lucas123 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Someone blew up the Cars? Bummer. I loved that band.

  4. Re:This IS NOT NEWS FOR NERDS by krept · · Score: 4, Funny

    (And, yes, the D&D satan thing probably is dating me ...)

    Whatever kind of guys you're into. We're not here to judge.

    --
    None of us know everything. Therefore we're all naïve.
  5. Re:Error My Ass by PoolOfThought · · Score: 5, Funny

    The presumption of innocence is extremely important, and it's frightening that everyone is so quick to throw that concept out of the window. Even commenters here on Slashdot are doing it.

    And after the NBC edit. This is how it your comments come through:

    The presumption of innocence... throw that concept out of the window.

    --
    My present is the activity I am currently engaged in with the purpose of turning the future into a better past.
  6. Re:Error My Ass by niftydude · · Score: 3, Funny

    Walking around aimlessly in the rain is unusual behavior unless you're a little kid splashing in puddles or a duck.

    But I like long walks in the rain!

    Also, candlelit dinners.

    --
    You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.