An “unreserved” apology has been issued by a regional daily after it mistook a man for a convicted sex offender.
The Hull Daily Mail had published a photograph of John Ainsworth alongside an article in Tuesday’s edition about taxi driver David Ainsworth, who was jailed for six months for sexually assaulting two female passengers.
A copy of the apology appeared on the Local World-owned title’s website on Wednesday..
Editor Neil Hodgkinson described the inaccuracy as “a very serious error”.
The apology reads: “Mr John Ainsworth has not been convicted of any such offence.
“We have also been asked to point out that he and his brother Mr David Ainsworth are not related to the David Ainsworth who appeared in court and do not know him.
“We apologise unconditionally for the embarrassment this mistake has caused to Mr John Ainsworth and his family.”
That’s a bad one. Essential law for journalists anyone? Or simple commonsense check your facts, photos etc.. Does anyone still do it?
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No Old Hack it’s all “Cross your fingers and hope you’ve got it right first time.”
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The Hull Daily Mail’s caption under the offending photo of John Ainsworth explained that it was taken from Facebook.
It is clear that the Hull Daily Mail took a photo from the Facebook account of the wrong man. Not only that, but the photo wasn’t even of the wrong David Ainswoth, but was of the brother of the wrong David Ainsworth!! How more inept could the Hull Daily be?
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Always going to happen now papers have no problem with nicking people’s Facebook pictures…
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Did they also print an apology in the paper?
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At one time this type of carelessness would lead to dismissal….
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Let’s be realistic about this. Why would a paper print something like this without being 100% sure they had all the facts right?
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