Make Sure You Proofreed, Proofrade, Proofread
*So when a publishing company in Alberta decided to print a TV guide and business directory pamphlet about Sioux Lookout to be distributed to hotels and other local businesses in the town, it probably seemed like a good idea. After the directory was out there though, it was realized that something was amiss. The booklet said that the town was "full of drunks", "a dirty little town," and that people living there should move. Seems that the publishing company who made the brochure took the info from Wikipedia and didn't "fact check" it. I'm thinking fact checking wasn't the problem. You'd figure that a simple perusal of the text would have raised some red flags had anyone bothered ("hey, Charlie, isn't this supposed to say good stuff about the town?").
There are a couple of lessons to be learned here, both very simple: proofread and don't take online encyclopdias that can be edited by anyone as your main resource for information.
Of course, after this came out, wikipedia is now seeing more additions to its entry about Sioux Lookout. A blogger from Sioux Lookout is keeping track of these on his blog.
*Edited according to comments made by Mac about my original post where I mistakenly said that the town of Sioux Lookout actually had the publication printed. They did not. (Only I could screw up a post about how not to screw up.)
posted by Tina Chaulk @ 9:35 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Hi Tina,
Another lesson is to make sure you have correct information before posting.
The town of Sioux Lookout did not print the pamphlet you refer to. Matter of fact, it was not printed by anyone in Sioux Lookout.
The brochure was conceived and printed by an independent printer in Edmonton, unbeknown to anyone in Sioux Lookout, except four advertisers who were contacted by the printer who sold the advertising space on the basis that the pamphlets would be distributed to hotels/motels in the area for use in guest rooms. The pamphlet's function was to show which cable TV channels went with which TV stations.
Once printed, the pamphlet was sent to local hotels/motels. None of the places requested the piece nor had any knowledge of it until it arrived.
It was a shoddy piece of work on several levels, and speaks loudly to a lack of integrity on the part of the Edmonton publisher.
My point is to clear up any misconception that the publication was a product of the town or anyone in Sioux Lookout. It was not.
Thanks. And good wishes.
Mac
And thank you, Mac. I stand corrected.
Actually this is spot on. I know that the truth hurts, but it has to come out sometime. Unfortunately Sioux Lookout has some of the rudest, spoiled entitled people you will ever meet. This is probably due to the high amount of government workers in Sioux Lookout. This town is a national embarrassment and it is time for Via Rail to switch back to the south track so international tourists don't have to see this town.
Post a Comment
<< Home