NPR Corrections

NPR corrects significant errors in broadcast and online reports. Corrections of errors will be made in audio archives, written transcripts and on the website. To report an error, please use our corrections form.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Poll Finds Americans, Especially Millennials, Moving Away From Religion

Corrected on November 3, 2015

A graphic on this post initially stated that 6.7 percent of recipients answered "Don't know/refused" to a question about religious identity in a 2007 survey. The correct number is 0.8 percent.

Also, a previous Web version of this story said the shares of the U.S. adult population who consider religion "very important" to them, pray daily and attend services at least once a month have declined between 3 and 4 percent over the past eight years; in fact, they declined between 3 and 4 percentage points.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">What To Look For In The Third GOP Debate

Corrected on October 28, 2015

In his Morning Edition conversation with host Steve Inskeep, campaign strategist Stuart Stevens said the Republican Party had never nominated for president anyone who had not held public office. That left out Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had been supreme Allied commander in Europe during World War II and then supreme commander of NATO, before winning the nomination in 1952.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">What It's Like To Take Photos Of A Dying Man

Corrected on October 21, 2015

A previous version of this story included a bracketed note identifying a surgery as a "lung transplant." He Quangui did not have a lung transplant. Also, in the caption for the photo at the top of the post, the original information was incorrect. The doctor is not puncturing He Quangui's lungs; he is puncturing his chest cavity to release air that escaped from his damaged lungs.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">For Syrians In Rebel Areas, Russian Airstrikes Add To Their Misery

Corrected on October 14, 2015

In the audio of this story, the introduction states that Russian sea-launched missiles landed in areas controlled by rebels who are seeking a free Syria. In fact, it's still not clear where the missiles landed and whether they hit areas controlled by the self-proclaimed Islamic State or by moderate rebels controlling other areas.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">At What Point Does A Fundraising Ad Go Too Far?

Corrected on October 1, 2015

The original version of this post said the print ad showing starving children, from the East African Emergency campaign run by the Disasters Emergency Committee, brought in $23 million between 1980 and 1984 for famine relief in Ethiopia. In fact, that sum represents the total amount raised by the campaign, which also used TV ads and other types of appeals.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Many Guesses, But No Answers On Joe Biden's Plans

Corrected on September 30, 2015

In a previous version of this story, we said that Vice President Biden was last asked about a possible presidential run during a Sept. 10 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In fact, he has been asked about it since then, including during a Sept. 17 interview with the Jesuit news outlet America Media.


Update on Oct. 2; a second correction

A previous version of this story placed the Oct. 13 Democratic debate in Denver. It will be in Las Vegas.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Why Women's Sports Get So Little Attention

Corrected on September 30, 2015

In an earlier version of the audio for this conversation, it was said that after the Women's World Cup "there was no carryover. There was no women's soccer league to go on and to pick up that attention." In fact, there is a National Women's Soccer League with teams in nine cities. Whether the attention paid to the World Cup will give the league a boost is not yet known.


Update on Oct. 1

We've also broadcast a correction. It's here.


Update on Oct. 2; a second correction

In this conversation, it's said that the commissioner of the WNBA should "go to Las Vegas and try to get them to establish a betting line" on the league's games. That was a mistake. There is betting on WNBA games in Las Vegas, as well as on other women's sports.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">In Limbo, In Love, In America: The Story Of A Syrian Asylum-Seeker

Corrected on September 29, 2015

The audio of this story, as did a previous version of the Web story, incorrectly states that Khaled has another hearing regarding his asylum claim, in January 2016. According to Khaled, immigration authorities denied his asylum claim, placed him on supervised release and ordered his deportation. He says he has not been informed of when — or to which country — he might be deported. Lori K. Haley, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says in a statement provided to NPR that Khaled "was ordered removed by an immigration judge with the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in August 2014. In December 2014, he was released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on an order of supervision, which requires him to report regularly to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers in Orange County while his removal order is in effect." Khaled currently has no pending appeals, Haley says.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Giving More Workers Overtime Could Have Downsides, Employers Say

Corrected on September 16, 2015

A listener emailed to say that this story misstates the current law on overtime rules and the proposed changes. He is right that many workers who make more than the Labor Department's new proposed threshold of $50,440 a year would be eligible for overtime pay. There is a "duties test," which considers the nature of a person's work. If the work is not "professional" or "white collar" in nature, overtime may be paid. Also, some employers may simply choose to pay overtime. Our story focused on the estimated 6 million workers whose jobs would qualify for overtime because of the proposed rules. The story also focused on how businesses are reacting to the change in rules.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Judge Refuses To Stop Name Change For New York College

Corrected on September 14, 2015

In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we say Paul Smith's College in New York changed its name to Joan Weill-Paul Smith's College. In fact, school officials say, the name wasn't changed. A judge ruled against a group of alumni that filed a petition to block the change, but the state Supreme Court has yet to rule on the challenge.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Take It From David Brooks: Career Success 'Doesn't Make You Happy'

Corrected on August 17, 2015

During this conversation, David Brooks says that in 1950 the Gallup organization asked high school seniors the question "are you a very important person?" and "12 percent said yes." Brooks also says "[Gallup] asked again in 2005, and it was 80 percent who said they were a very important person." He mistakenly attributed the survey to Gallup. While the study of adolescent attitudes supports the sociological trend, the survey was done by other researchers and in different years than the ones he mentioned. Brooks was citing material in his book The Road to Character. Its eBook edition has now been updated to say: "Between 1948 and 1954, psychologists asked more than 10,000 adolescents whether they considered themselves to be a very important person. At that point, 12 percent said yes. The same question was revisited in 1989, and this time it wasn't 12 percent who considered themselves very important, it was 80 percent of boys and 77 percent of girls."

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">5 Things We've Learned About 2016 Presidential Fundraising

Corrected on July 16, 2015

This piece originally stated that Bernie Sanders' campaign was the second-place fundraiser thus far. While Sanders took in the second-most last quarter, Marco Rubio's campaign has in fact taken in more during this election cycle, counting the money he rolled in from his Senate committee. The chart has also been corrected to reflect Bush's total cash on hand at the end of the second quarter.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Beyond A Bailout: Greece Needs Debt Relief, IMF Says

Corrected on July 16, 2015

In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we say economists generally agree countries get in trouble when their debt exceeds 90 percent of their annual gross domestic product. While true at one time, economists today take a more nuanced view. They generally say many factors influence the point at which a country's debt becomes unsustainable.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">'Go Set A Watchman' Is A Revelation On Race, Not A Disappointment

Corrected on July 16, 2015

A previous version of this story referred to Go Set a Watchman as a "sequel" to To Kill a Mockingbird. That's not quite right. Legitimate questions abound as to whether Harper Lee and her earlier editors intended this manuscript to be published as a sequel, or whether it was a discarded rough draft of what would become Mockingbird.

Whatever the case may be, the manuscript has been published, and we've chosen to engage with it on its face. — Tasneem Raja, senior editor, Code Switch

Fresh Air

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Ta-Nehisi Coates On Police Brutality, The Confederate Flag And Forgiveness

Corrected on July 14, 2015

In the audio of this story, we incorrectly said Ta-Nehisi Coates won a 2015 National Magazine Award for his Atlantic story "The Case For Reparations." Coates was a finalist for the "Essays and Criticism" prize in 2015. He won the National Magazine Award for "Essays and Criticism" in 2013 for his Atlantic article "Fear of a Black President."

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">How Salt + Car Battery = Clean Water

Corrected on July 2, 2015

In a previous version of this story, we incorrectly said that the SE200 had been field-tested last month. The testing was actually in May. We also incorrectly said the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency spent $6 million developing a pen-size water purification system. It was actually Mountain Safety Research that spent that money to develop the purification system, with support from DARPA.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Doesn't Make It Biblically Correct, Pastor Says

Corrected on June 30, 2015

The Supreme Court decision does not say that pastors are required to perform same-sex marriages. In fact, the Supreme Court said ministers who do not approve of same-sex marriages can't be forced to perform them. The court decision applies only to government functions, not religious ceremonies. But many of those who are now criticizing the court decision believe pastors will be pressured to go against their beliefs.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Making Sense Of Rachel Dolezal, The Alleged White Woman Who Passed As Black

Corrected on June 13, 2015

A previous version of this post included a quote attributed to feminist critic bell hooks; in fact, the statement was posted by a bell hooks fan page and was never said by the author. The statement compared Dolezal to Iggy Azalea and asked, "Why waste time being at the bottom of a lengthy hierarchy of white women ... when you can be fast tracked to the top of the hierarchy of black women?"

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Charter To Pay $78B For Time Warner Cable

Corrected on May 26, 2015

We say that John Malone is the head of Charter Communications, the company that has announced a deal to acquire Time Warner Cable. Malone, the chairman of Liberty Media, is a key figure driving the deal. But he is not the chairman or CEO of Charter. Tom Rutledge is the CEO of Charter Communications.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Facebook Courts News Giants Into A Deal To Share Viewers, And Revenues

Corrected on May 14, 2015

In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we mischaracterize some aspects of the way revenue from ad sales will be handled, particularly regarding The Atlantic and its Facebook Instant Articles. All the media companies will keep 100 percent of the revenue from ads they sell that appear with their Facebook Instant Articles. If Facebook assists in any ad sales, the revenue will be split. The Atlantic will sell its own ads. But if The Atlantic has unsold ad positions, Facebook may sell ads to fill those spots. In that case, Facebook and The Atlantic will share the revenue. In addition, in the audio we say Facebook and the news publishers will split profits on ad sales. They'll actually split revenue on those sales.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">White House Move To Protect Nest Eggs Sparks Hopes And Fears

Corrected on May 14, 2015

In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we say stockbrokers are already held to a fiduciary standard but that because of loopholes they can still get commissions for steering people into bad investments with high fees. In fact, some financial planners are held to a fiduciary standard, and by getting registered both as financial planners and as stockbrokers they can evade that fiduciary standard and get commissions for steering people into such investments.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Planetary Society Set To Launch Solar Sail Experiment

Corrected on May 12, 2015

A previous version of this post incorrectly said that the satellite LightSail is contained within the somewhat larger Prox-1 satellite developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology. In fact, it is the second LightSail satellite that will be deployed via the Prox-1 spacecraft. It also stated that the LightSail is pushed along by the solar wind, but is in fact is powered by photons.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Shaping State Laws With Little Scrutiny

Corrected on May 11, 2015

As we reported, Arizona Republican state Sen. Russell Pearce was the originator of the draft legislation that later became the immigration law known as Arizona SB 1070. Although Corrections Corporation of America did have a representative at the American Legislative Exchange Council meeting where model legislation similar to 1070 was drafted, we didn't mean to suggest that CCA wrote the language.

Weekend Edition Saturday

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Kansas City Royals Break Bad: The Week In Sports

Corrected on May 8, 2015

In this conversation, our guest says that pitcher Yordano Ventura of the Kansas City Royals hit the White Sox's Adam Eaton with a pitch. In fact, Eaton was not hit with the pitch. But he and Ventura exchanged words and a brawl ensued. We also say that Ventura had been throwing at opposing players' heads. While he has hit some players and has angered others with inside pitches, it was not correct to say that Ventura was targeting their heads.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Why Do Courts Still Deliver Many Legal Documents By Hand?

Corrected on April 24, 2015

David Nill's name was misspelled as Nils in an earlier version of this transcript. Also, a clarification: Nill suggests that an electronic system for serving legal papers could make delivery easier and faster in many cases. He believes that such a system should require a recipient to opt in — in other words, to agree to receive the document. If a person did not opt in, delivery would not occur.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Twitter Outrage Takes Toronto, Canceling Two Pianists

Corrected on April 10, 2015

An earlier version of this story stated that the Toronto Symphony Orchestra official who both initially contacted pianist Stewart Goodyear about performing this week's concerts with the orchestra and then participated in a conversation with Goodyear and guest conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste about canceling the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto was TSO CEO Jeff Melanson. It was Loie Fallis, TSO vice president of artistic planning.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">The Navajo Nation's Tax On Junk Food Splits Reservation

Corrected on April 9, 2015

An earlier version of this article stated that Denisa Livingston said the tax will make people drive off the reservation. What she actually said was that people already drive off the reservation, and the Navajo nation is hoping the money generated from the tax will go toward farm initiatives, food storage, farmers markets on the Nation so they don't have to drive off the reservation.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Doctors Test Tumor Paint In People

Corrected on April 8, 2015

In an earlier audio version of this report, we incorrectly stated that a dog named Sydney was being treated at the University of Washington veterinary school in Pullman. In fact, it is the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine that is in Pullman.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">German Program Helps Families De-Radicalize Members Prone To Extremism

Corrected on April 8, 2015

During this interview we mistakenly say that Daniel Koehler started working at the EXIT program 15 years ago. In fact, he began working with the program in 2010. We also say that the Hayat program has "taken in some 1,600 calls and worked with 600 counseling cases." Those figures are Koehler's estimates for four organizations, not just the Muslim-focused Hayat program.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Diagnosing A Sinus Infection Can Be A DIY Project

Corrected on April 2, 2015

While the vast majority of acute sinusitis is viral, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation notes that on occasion significant complications can occur from bacterial sinusitis. Signs and symptoms such as worsening headaches, visual problems, changes in mental activity, facial swelling and progressive fever can indicate impending complications. If those are observed, the patient should seek medical care.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Why Is Insulin So Expensive In The U.S.?

Corrected on March 19, 2015

This post was edited to clarify that Dr. Jeremy Greene only sometimes sees patients whose blood sugar is too high for glucometers to read. Also, recombinant DNA techniques were developed in the 1970s and used to make a human form of insulin that became popular during the 1980s. The original version of this post said the recombinant DNA tools were developed in the 1980s.

Clarification

March 27, 2015:

While it's true that the lack of generic insulin has hindered price competition for the diabetes medicine, some readers and listeners of our story pointed out that Wal-Mart pharmacies carry a house brand of insulin that costs about $25 a vial.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Kentucky Right-To-Work Battle Shifts To Counties

Corrected on March 18, 2015

In previous audio and online versions of this story, we incorrectly said that Warren County's General Motors manufacturing plant is a closed shop, meaning that prospective employees must be union members before they're hired. In fact, it's a union shop, which means that employees must still join the union — but may do so after being hired.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Movie Chains Balk At Netflix's Plan For Simultaneous Release

Corrected on March 18, 2015

In a previous Web version of this story, we incorrectly attributed this quote to Tim League: "We're agnostic. We're screen-agnostic. You know, a screen is a screen is a screen, whether it's in a theater, whether it's at home on your TV or whether it's your iPad. Where you want to consume is where you want to consume and we wanna make it available to you where it makes sense for you, but we also want to build our films in a way that suits them. It's not a one size fits all." It was actually said by Tom Quinn.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">The 'Man Who Touched His Own Heart' Changed Medicine

Corrected on February 11, 2015

This piece states that Werner Forssmann was a medic during World War II. It would be more accurate to describe Forssmann as a medical officer. In 1939 he enlisted in the German armed forces. He eventually reached the rank of surgeon-major. In his autobiography, Forssmann describes his duties as being those of a field doctor — sometimes in hospitals associated with particular invasions, and in other cases stationed at hospitals to which the injured would be brought.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Plight Of Baby Lab Monkeys Reaches Congress

Corrected on February 5, 2015

An earlier version of this blog post said that a group of baby monkeys is in near-total isolation during the week and that their isolation is complete on weekends. To clarify, these particular baby monkeys are isolated from their mothers and housed in individual cages in one room. Dr. Amanda Dettmer at the Laboratory of Comparative Ethology at NIH says the cages are such that the monkeys "can see, hear, smell and touch other monkeys through their enclosures at all times." The monkeys spend two hours a day on weekdays playing with peers, are often in contact with researchers on weekdays, and are checked by researchers twice on weekends.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Economists Say Millennials Should Consider Careers In Trades

Corrected on February 3, 2015

In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we incorrectly say that four-year college graduates are nearly twice as likely to have a job compared to Americans with a high school diploma. We should have said the unemployment rate is nearly twice as high for Americans with a high school diploma as it is for those with a four-year college degree or more.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Child Abuse And Neglect Laws Aren't Being Enforced, Report Finds

Corrected on January 27, 2015

Ron Zychowski with Eckerd, the nonprofit company that runs child welfare services in three Florida counties, says in this report that the family of a girl thrown off a bridge was not in the county child welfare system. There are reports that child welfare investigators had visited the family previously. But according to officials at Eckerd, the company had no active case involving the family.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Paris Attacks Refocus Attention On Homegrown Terrorist Threats

Corrected on January 27, 2015

Our interview subject incorrectly says that Khaled Kelkal was the terrorist responsible for a 1982 attack at a Jewish restaurant in Paris. In fact, police linked that attack to the Abu Nidal Organization. Khaled Kelkal was affiliated with a French-Algerian terrorist group known as the GIA. The GIA claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in France in the summer and fall of 1995. Police said that Kelkal's fingerprints were found on an unexploded bomb and he was killed when they tried to arrest him in Lyon that same year.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Argentina's President Dissolves Intelligence Agency, Citing Prosecutor's Death

Corrected on January 26, 2015

An earlier version of this post said authorities were trying to determine where the gun that killed Nisman came from. An associate of Nisman's has said he gave him the gun. The earlier version also said testimony by a locksmith that Nisman's door was unlocked undermined the theory of suicide. The testimony was later disputed by Nisman's mother, who has said she partially unlocked the door before the locksmith arrived.

Morning Edition

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Measles Outbreak At Disneyland Spreads To Other States

Corrected on January 22, 2015

We say the measles vaccine causes no problematic side effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most children do not have any side effects from the shot. The side effects that do occur are usually very mild, such as a fever or rash. More serious side effects are rare. These may include high fever that could cause a seizure.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Mae Keane, One Of The Last 'Radium Girls,' Dies At 107

Corrected on January 15, 2015

In the audio of this story, as in a previous headline and Web version of the text, we say Mae Keane was the last of the "radium girls." We were relying on the work of scholars who have studied what happened to the young women who worked in wristwatch factories. After the story aired, we received word that 104-year-old Mabel Williams, who lives in Olympia, Wash., worked in one of the factories when she was a young woman. A commenter below also says that other "radium girls" may still be alive.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Anti-Immigrant Rally Draws Thousands In Dresden

Corrected on January 13, 2015

Some readers have pointed out that the slogan "We are the People!" mentioned in this story was made famous by pro-democracy demonstrators in Leipzig, the birthplace of East Germany's peaceful revolution against the communist government of the time. PEGIDA supporters use the slogan because they feel the Berlin government today is ignoring their views just like the communists did then.

Our correspondent says she should have included that information but that it was important to point out the phrase is also associated with Nazi propaganda from the 1930s — specifically a phrase used by philosopher Martin Heidegger. Given the demands by protesters that non-ethnic Germans there assimilate or be banned from Germany altogether, opponents of PEGIDA have criticized its appropriation of the "We are the People!" phrase.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">First Amendment Arguments Overshadow Sterling Espionage Case

Corrected on January 12, 2015

In a previous version of this story, we inaccurately characterized the government allegations about what material Jeffrey Sterling may have leaked. In fact, the prosecution argues Sterling told a reporter about a botched operation to target Iran's nuclear capabilities, as we accurately reported in later versions. Additionally, the original version of the transcript contained that same error.

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">Meet The Classroom Of The Future

Corrected on January 12, 2015

A previous version of this story misidentified the school where Aaron Kaswell teaches as M.S. 33. He actually teaches at M.S. 88. Additionally, we incorrectly said that teachers receive schedules 12 hours in advance, when it's 16 hours, and that lessons at I.S. 228, which are 35 minutes long, are 25 minutes long.

All Things Considered

"corrections", "action" => "Click Story"} ">When It Comes To Smartphones, Are Americans Dumb?

Corrected on January 8, 2015

In the audio of this story, we say carmaker Lamborghini was displaying a $6,000 smartphone at the International Consumer Electronics Show; a previous Web version implied the same thing. In fact, it's the son of the carmaker's founder who is selling the phone. He got permission to use his dad's famous logo.

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