Regret the Book

Oh boy have I been derelict in making updates to this site. So what’s been going on?

My book is out, has received some very nice reviews and media coverage, and led to me appearing on the December 23 edition of CNN’s Reliable Sources program. Watch the segment below and marvel at how pale I am. Hey, it’s winter in Montreal.

I’ve also pasted some excerpts of reviews and coverage for the book below. You can also read my latest round-up of the year in media errors and corrections on the Regret the Error website.

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Selected reviews and comments:

…a winding journey through the most glaring, damaging and humorous typos, misprints, misidentifications, fuzzy numbers and obiticides in the history of journalism, from the accidental to the malicious. These chapters are chock-full of amusing historical anecdotes, including the story behind the incorrect headline Dewey Defeats Truman, the case of mistaken identity that galvanized Nobel to create his prestigious awards, and the oft-presumed dead but still living Abe Vigoda. Silverman injects plenty of humor, but mostly he is deeply concerned about the science of journalism, and at the heart of this romp is an argument for increased public participation in the news cycle. – Publishers Weekly

The extensively researched work delves into the history of accuracy and errors in journalism, seeking answers to why errors occur, their impact on the credibility of journalism, and what can be done to both minimize mistakes and learn from them. The book connects the dots between newspaper accuracy, errors and corrections, and media credibility – and ultimately the survival of newspapers in a media-saturated world where trust and credibility are our most important assets. – Toronto Star

“Regret the Error” is a compendium of published media corrections, many of them hilarious. But Craig Silverman, a journalist who founded the Web site RegretTheError.com, turns what could have been a sudsy little stocking stuffer into a serious study of why journalists fail so often. He also lays out a sensible, brain-driven plan for reform, starting with a “systems approach” to accuracy. – American Journalism Review

In his new book “Regret the Error,” Craig Silverman, a young Montreal journalist, explores this world of press errors and corrections big and small. He laments changes in newspaper finances and production methods that have stretched reporters and editors, and reduced the scrutiny of the printed word. – The Oregonian

Other comments/reviews:

-”I’m now halfway through the book and am convinced it should be put in the hands of every journalist and journalism student.”

-”Regret the Error works because of Silverman’s incisive but good-natured voice as an advocate for old-fashioned verities like accuracy and honesty (add transparency to the stew as well)…Regret the Error is not an indictment of the media, or an apologia, but a reminder that — in this age of instantaneous news, citizen publishing and online scoops — getting it right still counts for something.”

-”Silverman’s book also offers a series of recommendations to improve accuracy. Among his useful ideas are better training in interviewing and note-taking; accuracy checklists and a 10-minute fact-checking period before reporters turn in copy; greater use of anti-plagiarism software; increased post-publication surveys of sources to monitor accuracy; and random fact-checking of one story from each section of every issue. These are not only good ideas, they can actually be implemented in any newsroom at little or no cost.”

-”Not a mere collection of gaffes, the book uses corrections as a jumping off point for a thorough and thoughtful critique of the sad state of the mainstream media in the 21st century, as well as a fascinating history of the very concept of accuracy in the press throughout the centuries.”