We know what they meant…
By HoldTheFrontPage staff

Thanks to all the journalists around the country who are keeping us well supplied with courtroom howlers, cock-ups and headline horrors. Here is the latest selection:

Craig McGill e-mailed us to say:
“This month’s copy of lad’s mag Loaded (pg 205) has a piece featuring the Aberdeen Press & Journal’s tech. page Innovation.
“The story is about the First Tuesday networkers who meet once a month for drinks and to set up business deals, etc.
“However, it’s the headline that got the Loaded lads going – “Drinking-cum-business group widening its net” for obvious reasons.

“All I’m saying is this: When I launched the tech page a year ago I know I said I’d make technology sexy, but this is a step too far. Also, anyone with advice on killing a sub should get in touch.

“Also, about five years ago there was an ad. in the Economist for a very specialised post (as there always is).
“However what made the headline stand out was that in the 32-ish point headline type the job was partially described as pubic affairs instead of public.
“Having said that, given the shenanigans of some people these days perhaps it wasn’t a typo and the company was just forward-looking.”

Andrew Howard, from the Express & Echo, Exeter, recalled: “When I worked on the Craven Herald in Skipton we ran a classified asking for good homes for cats, dogs and rabbis.”

John Atkin, of the Stoke Sentinel, remembers this exchange in Ashbourne magistrates court, during the early 1990s: “A small boy was called to give evidence against the man accused of indecently assaulting him.
“‘And where precisely did he touch you?’ asked the prosecutor in her best sympathetic child-friendly tones.
“Came the reply: ‘Down by Nestle’s factory’.”

John Thorne spotted a story in the Honiton and Cullompton News about people with special educational needs. The headline was: “….for people with leaning difficulties….”

Moving away from print journalism, Dave Colville, of The News, Portsmouth, spotted this comment, attributed to Frank Lampard Snr, on the official West Ham United website:

“Years ago people played lots of games and nothing was said about it. The players get well paid and if they look after themselves off the field, eat the right foot and train well, then there’s no reason why they can’t play a lot of games.”

More please!!!! e-mail them to us and we’ll post them here

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