Journalists Caught In Wikipedia Hoax
ON the Wikipedia page of French composer Maurice Jarre, who died at the end of March, is a quote – one made up by Shane Fitzgerald, a final-year undergraduate student studying sociology and economics at University College Dublin.
The quote was posted after Jarre died. You can read it in obituaries to Jarre published in the Guardian, the Independent, on the BBC Music Magazine website and in Indian and Australian newspapers.
The quote:
“One could say my life itself has been one long soundtrack. Music was my life, music brought me to life, and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head, that only I can hear.”
Says Fitzgerald:
“I saw it on breaking news and thought if I was going to do something I should do it quickly. I knew journalists wouldn’t be looking at it until the morning…
“I didn’t expect it to go that far. I expected it to be in blogs and sites, but on mainstream quality papers? I was very surprised about.”
Surprised at how lazy hacks are?
He adds:
“I don’t think it would have been found out unless I had told them so.”
The Guardian printed a correction.
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Posted: 7th, May 2009 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
