Corrections are not an uncommon practice in print journalism. Mistakes happen and it’s better to fix it, even if it is after the fact. There is no standard set of rules for letting readers know an error has been made, but the internet makes it is much easier to fix articles that appear on a newspapers website. Those stories can display the date/time it was updated and include an editor’s note at the bottom explaining what was changed and even why.

That being said, the “correction” the Houston Chronicle printed in its Oct. 8 newspaper is remarkable.

Mistakes happen. Being a long time broadcaster, I know only too well that, as hard as one tries, errors like this are going to happen. The pressure to increase (or in some cases simply maintain revenue), shrinking staff and tight deadlines only add the chances of mistakes taking place, not just in news stories, but advertisements as well.

That being said, the Houston Chronicle must have been under enormous pressure to acknowledge what admittedly is a pretty big screw up. Tilman Fertitta who holds the position of Chairman, University of Houston System Board of Regents (as well as Chairman of the Board and CEO Landry’s, Inc. and owner of the Houston Rockets) carries a lot of weight. I don’t know if he made the call to the Houston Chronicle, but given the severity of the correction, one has to wonder.

Normally when something like this happens, make-goods are offered (free ads to make up for the error), but that obviously was not enough to satisfy. I’m also curious as to whether or not the Houston Chronicle sent the ad to the client (ad agency, the university) for approval. That’s pretty standard practice and it would be surprising if that did not take place. The chronicle claims the mistake is 100% theirs, but was it really, or did they simply fall on the sword.

The one thing that is very clear, yesterday was not a good for many at the Houston Chronicle.