San Francisco Station Lowers The Bar For Broadcast Journalism

While both KTVU and The National Transportation Safety Board are apologizing for an on-air blunder which led to fake names of the Asiana Flight 214 crew, the situation points out a fact we see all too many times.

Here's what happened:  During KTVU's Friday noon newscast, anchorwoman Tori Campbell told viewers, "KTVU has just learned the names of the four pilots who were on board," then proceeded to read the names which obviously came from a racially insensitive joke someone had made up.  The announcement came complete with a graphic, as she continued, "Sum Ting Wong," "Wi Tu Lo," "Ho Lee Fuk," and "Bang Ding Ow"

 

Of course, it didn't take long for the phones to start ringing and then for KTVU to issue an apology.  Then the finger pointing began.  Apparently, a reporter from KTVU had called the NTSB after receiving a "tip." and asked the NTSB to confirm the names.  As it happened, an intern at the NTSB answered the phone and, probably thinking it was a joke, confirmed it.  Then KTVU "ran with it."  Their "scoop."

Of course, the KTVU reporter or producer never asked for the intern's name.  Later the NTSB issued a statement: "A summer intern acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft. The NTSB does not release or confirm the names of crew members or people involved in transportation accidents to the media. We work hard to ensure that only appropriate factual information regarding an investigation is released and deeply regret today's incident. Appropriate actions will be taken to ensure that such a serious error is not repeated."

Maybe a bigger question is, how could someone not receive this information and immediately recognize it as a joke?  How could an anchor READ these names before airing them (as they're supposed to do) and not recognize it as a joke?  How could an anchor READ THESE NAMES OFF A TELEPROMPTER ON THE AIR without recognizing it as a joke?  How could the graphic artist make the graphic without recognizing it as a joke? 

Here's the video and apology:

In the words of today's youth: Epic Fail!

UPDATE: Asiana Airlines says it's going to SUE KTVU for damaging it's reputation!  On the other hand, does this really damage the airline's reputation more than ACTUALLY CRASHING A PLANE?