Steve Jobs is NOT Dead - Don't Make this Mistake !
With the internet buzzing about Bloomberg running Steve Jobs obituary by mistake on Thursday, the recent speculation about the health of Apple boss Steve Jobs (which is a concern to many computer buffs as the computer firm's success is directly linked to Jobs being in charge) makes for a good case study of how NOT to blog. The Bloomberg story was incomplete, it was obvious to most that it was been posted by mistake, and Bloomberg quickly took it down, but not before many websites and blogs noticed and grabbed the mistaken obit for all to read.
The obituary began: "Steve Jobs, who helped make personal computers as easy to use as telephones, changed the way animated films are made, persuaded consumers to tune into digital music and refashioned the mobile phone, has ____________. He was ____". Having realized their dumb mistake, and that it had been mentioned on the net, Bloomberg quickly issued the following statement: "An incomplete story referencing Apple Inc was inadvertently published by Bloomberg News at 4:27 p.m. New York time today. The item was never meant for publication and has been retracted".
You can find the full obituary elsewhere on the net, my point in posting this about the Bloomberg/Jobs error is to remind all blogges of the importance of checking your work before you post on your blog. We discussed this before, but seeing Bloomberg's error really brings this home. How does a firm so large make a mistake so easily avoided??? Take their error as a lesson, you and your blog's credibility and good name should always be protected by you. Re-read your posts, check your sources and give credit to others before you hit ENTER. Once a dumb mistake is made, like the Jobs post, it's easy to issue a correction, but hard to stop the jokes and correct the damage to your brand.
Let me know what you think, comment below...
"They don't call it the Jesus Phone for nothing." http://notnews.today.com/2008/08/29/zombie-steve-jobs-has-system-upgrade/
Posted by: David Gerard | August 29, 2008 at 02:11 PM